What is Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and Why Should You Use It?
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is commonly known as “static electricity.” These discharges occur when an electric charge is built up and then rapidly transferred from one object to another which is usually accompanied by a visible spark. An electrostatic discharge can have negative consequences, where components can become damaged or lead to unsafe circumstances. These are most commonly in (but certainly not limited to) electronics manufacturing. For example, small electronics can be destroyed by ESD with voltages lower than 10 volts of static electricity where flammable liquids or gases are handled Therefore, manufacturers must adhere to ESD protocols to avoid any possible buildup of static electricity to ensure product quality, as well as, maintain a safe working environment. These protocols might include: Equipment handled inside an ESD Protected Area (EPA) Protective gear worn by personnel to dissipate a static charge to the ground Components are protected with specialized packaging that is made from static-dissipative (AKA ESD-safe) materials Expanding on that last bullet point, a material is considered ESD-safe when it reduces the transfer of static electricity. Its purpose is to avoid any electrostatic discharge that could affect the components surrounding it. Since plastics are insulators, they have a charge and a high electrical resistance. [...]
HP Unveils Disruptive New Material for 3D Polymers Production
Accel Digital Solutions, Decathlon, Erpro Group, and Materialise are achieving unparalleled surface aesthetics and cost-efficiency in parts production HP Inc. will showcase parts at the annual AMUG (Additive Manufacturing User Group) Conference using a new material qualified for its industrial 3D polymers solutions. Developed with Arkema, the new PA 12 S material sets the standard for surface aesthetics, while reducing costs for customers using HP’s Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D printing solutions. The reach of this pioneering material will soon expand, as it is set to become available for the Jet Fusion 5600 Series later this spring, broadening its application across HP's suite of polymer 3D printing solutions. “From design to parts production and post processing, HP is committed to delivering a broad range of innovative materials and programs for more sustainable production,” said Francois Minec, Global Head of 3D Polymers, HP Inc. “We are thrilled to once again join our colleagues across the industry at AMUG as we collectively look to accelerate scale and adoption of additive manufacturing.” Optimizing Production Costs and Efficiency with PA 12 S The introduction of PA 12 S, enabled by Arkema, is set to revolutionize the industry by reducing variable costs per part and significantly lowering the [...]
The Impossible Becomes Reality With 3D Scanning
When should you perform 3D scanning? As with other tech novelties, the unbridled enthusiasm for scanners makes it difficult to differentiate the hype from the valuable applications. Should you decide to seek out the answer in the vast online wilderness, you’ll discover some interesting passion projects and creative feats of engineering. Scanning body parts and boats seems to be a particularly popular pastime! Fun and games aside, the world of manufacturing faces growing demands: short lead times, narrow tolerances, measuring complex shapes in extreme environments (think suspended bridges!). Under such circumstances, the value of 3D scanning is clear. 3D Scanning for Inspection In particular, anyone conducting an inspection is likely to benefit from scanning due to the large amount of data that scanners can gather, the accuracy of the measurements and its non-contact nature. Two great examples of this come from SCAN IT 3D, a 3D scanning service provider and Geomagic partner that is based in Germany and Switzerland. SCAN IT 3D has worked on a range of scanning projects, from reverse engineering vintage car parts, scanning entire trains, to inspecting pipes and modeling heads... You name it, they’ve scanned it. Out of this wealth of cases, we’re going to look at two [...]
Mastercam Drill Change at Point
Mastercam includes a feature in the Drill toolpath that lets you edit toolpath motion for any single selected entity in that operation. Typically when using Drill, and working with a solid, you can use the Calculate incremental values from holes or line option. This allows you to have multiple depths in a single operation. When you only have wireframe geometry this can be a little trickier to do. Using change at point, you can adjust how a single position will act in your toolpath. Using the geometry below as an example, notice the central hole is noted as being only .5” deep, while the rest are 1”. One option you would have would be to break up the geometry into two toolpaths. However, if you want to consolidate your toolpaths into a single operation, you can use Change at Point. Once you select all the geometry, you can use Change at Point to edit your unique depth for the central hole. You can set the depth of cut to -.500”. Once you apply any Change at Point parameters, you will see an icon added to that selection. This allows you to quickly identify that a custom parameter has been applied to that specific [...]
Introducing Kimya PEI Support: Simplifying Your 3D Printing Process
Introducing Kimya PEI Support, a new high-performance breakaway support filament meticulously designed to elevate your 3D printing experience. Tailored for use with Kimya PEI-9085 and Kimya PEI- 1010 filaments, both based on ULTEM by Sabic, this innovative support material brings a new level of functionality to your printing of ultramaterial parts. Perfect Synergy with ULTEM-based PEI 3D printed parts Crafted with precision, Kimya PEI Support establishes a perfect synergy with Kimya PEI-9085 and Kimya PEI-1010 filaments. The synergy ensures an optimal 3D printing experience, with the support material exhibiting excellent adhesion to the model material. This seamless integration guarantees a hassle-free printing process with consistent and reliable results. The challenge of printing intricate parts with complex geometries and internal features has met its match with Kimya PEI Support. This innovative support material opens up a new realm of design possibilities, enabling the creation of high-performance material parts that were once deemed impossible through traditional manufacturing methods. By providing essential structural support during the printing process, Kimya PEI Support prevents the collapse of model material before hardening. This not only ensures the integrity of the final product but also facilitates the fabrication of intricate designs that push the boundaries of what can be achieved [...]
Engineering Is Not Just a Title – CimCast
Engineering Is Not Just a Title In our third episode of CimCast, we delve into some of the past and ongoing internal projects of our 3D printing application engineer team. If you have podcast topic ideas, please send them to cimcast@cimquest-inc.com.