Robotic arms carry out a wide range of functions in this modern age of manufacturing. The end of arm tool (EAOT) of a robot is the key piece which engages with an object, for example through gripping or welding. With FDM technology, companies can now produce custom end of arm tools tailored to sophisticated applications and processes, at a fraction of the cost.
Let’s explore investment casting and how FDM tooling can be employed in this distinctive process. Investment casting, also known as lost wax casting, is a centuries old process used to produce metal components with intricate geometries and precise details. In this process, molten metal is poured into a ceramic cavity, which is formed by a wax pattern. The wax pattern is dipped into a ceramic slurry, and then melted out once the ceramic shell hardens. [...]
(Excerpt taken from an article on www.machinedesign.com) Additive manufacturing allows engineers to test and make design adjustments without a capital investment in hard tooling. The lack of tooling makes it ideal for one-off parts like custom manufacturing aids. Two of the more popular 3D printing processes used in the creation of manufacturing aids are Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Laser Sintering (LS). FDM deposits heated filament, similar to a hot glue gun. FDM can create [...]
Let’s take a look at the user interface in the new SOLIDWORKS 2016 release. It has improved scaling for high-resolution screens, a new icon style, and a redesigned triad. SOLIDWORKS 2016 supports high-pixel density displays and responds to the Microsoft Windows display scaling setting so the PropertyManagers and FeatureManager design tree uses your display scaling setting to display buttons and icons at an appropriate size. For toolbars, you can display SMALL, MEDIUM, or LARGE buttons [...]
Do you know what Section 179 is? It’s a tax code that was created to help businesses. If you take advantage of it before December 31st you can fully deduct the price of business equipment and software investments purchased this year (2015). That makes now the perfect time to invest in a new 3D printer or software that your business could really use. Here is a quick overview of Section 179. Section 179 is a [...]
To embrace the spirit of the holiday season, this year Cimquest made some custom 3D printed cookie cutters in Ultem 1010. Ultem 1010 is known for its exceptional strength and heat resistance, making it ideal for production applications in the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries. It has the highest heat and chemical resistance of any FDM material, along with the greatest tensile strength. But aside from these impressive properties, Ultem 1010 is biocompatible and approved for [...]
KMCA is a model making company based in New Haven, CT. Founded in 1988, they produce models for some of the world’s leading architectural and industrial design firms. Their primary focus is commercial office complexes, however they support a variety of building types ranging from churches to university centers. KMCA’s traditional methods of production include 3 Axis CNC machining and laser cutting, which operate in conjunction with manual assembly techniques. While these machining methods are [...]
To embrace our holiday spirit, we printed festive 3D cookie cutters! These cutters were printed in Ultem 1010, a biocompatible thermoplastic approved for food contact making it a practical material for food-production industries. This certified grade features NSF 51 and ISO 10993/USP Class VI certifications. http://cimquesttv.wistia.com/medias/g2mei2lg29?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640
