Onshape Branching and Versioning
One of the challenges in product design is in keeping the brainstorm workspace organized. You will probably explore many “what if” scenarios to come up with a good starting point for the product and Onshape has a great design and collaboration solution for this called Branching and Versioning. In this example, we are looking for a creative guitar face for the guitar we are designing. In order to leverage our colleagues' creativity, we first need to Create a version. This captures a snapshot of your design in time. Having that, you can then leverage the Branch functionality and branch off to a workspace to experiment in without affecting the original design. We've created several branches springing from the Base Version. Each of our colleagues now have their own workspace to brainstorm in independently. Once everyone has had a chance to experiment in their own workspace, you can quickly cycle through what everyone came up with. Onshape also lets you compare Versions, Workspaces, or even moments in History in a Part Studio. If there is one particular design that you would like to implement, you can choose to Merge it back to the base version and continue designing from there. As you can see, [...]
Multi Jet Fusion Used by Bowman International
Rollertrain bearing cage, manufactured with HP's Multi Jet Fusion technology. Bowman International has revealed more details on its investment in HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology for the manufacture of bearings, seals, and cages. The company mentioned its acquiring of MJF technology after it announced it had implemented AMFG's automation software last month. Supplied by Europac3D, Bowman has purchased the 4200 platform to help reduce on costs and time, while increasing the functionality of end products. It is also the first MJF machine in the UK to print parts in PA11 nylon, which can help deliver parts with greater elasticity, durability and functionality. Bowman has used the MJF technology to produce a bespoke ‘Rollertrain’ cage, which boasts an interlocking structure which uses the rolling elements to pin together each section of the cage. Thanks to its design, there is now enough additional space around the cage’s circumference to add two-four more rollers than other bearing cage products on the market, meaning the load can be spread over a higher number of rolling elements, and performance can be enhanced. With an apparent 70% increase in the load bearing capacity of its split bearings and an increased work life of up to [...]
How to Debind Desktop Metal Studio System Parts
In the video below, Desktop Metal demonstrates how to load parts and set up a job for solvent debind in the Studio System debinder. For more information on Desktop Metal 3D printers, please click the button below. More info
Introducing Castable Wax Resin for Sharp Detail and Clean Casting
Castable Wax Resin, the newest addition to the Formlabs library of Jewelry Resins for 3D printing, is now shipping. This wax-filled material is designed for reliable direct investment casting with zero ash content and clean burnout. Printed parts are suitable for both custom try-ons and final production. It combines sharp accuracy, smooth surface finish, and high green strength, making it our best all-around material for direct investment casting. The way jewelers work is changing and castable photopolymer resins are leading the way. From independent designers concepting and prototyping in their studios, to casting houses increasing capacity and diversifying their offerings, digital fabrication techniques are increasingly key to growing a successful jewelry business. Capable 3D printing materials like Castable Wax Resin are helping jewelry designers and manufacturers scale their production in-house. Highly capable equipment and materials help designers and manufacturers free up time that would be spent making or preparing pieces by hand. With affordable, intuitive desktop 3D printing options like the Form 2, high quality 3D printing is increasingly accessible and scalable for jewelers at all levels. For more information on the Formlabs 3D printers, please click the button below. More info
What’s New in Live Parts v.1.3
Desktop Metal has created a nice video that will walk you through the new B-rep geometry import/export functionality in Live Parts™ v1.3. This new version was released in June and this video below will give you a great preview of the technology. For more information on Desktop Metal products, please click the button below. More Info
Rize Helps FRC Team Soar to New Heights
Rze Pulley Maximizes Efficiency and Performance FRC Team 1257 had a new competition, or “game,” to play in this year called FIRST Power Up, which entailed building robots that placed boxes on scales in competitive events vs. other FRC teams. The team designed and a printed functional pulley with an integrated sprocket. The pulley/sprocket part was printed in one piece on a Rize™ One 3D printer to reduce the number of parts and minimize part assembly required. The part is operated with a cable. The chain turns the sprocket that is built into the drum of the pulley. Students wind and unwind the assembly to lift and lower the robot’s elevator that holds the boxes. “We chose the Rize One 3D printer to print the part due to Rize’s isotropic part strength and ink marking capability,” said Jackie Gerstein, a technology teacher at UCMHS. “Labeling was printed directly onto the end of the sprocket part to indicate which chain the students need to use to use with that sprocket. This avoided any confusion and potential malfunction.” Rize Pulley Lifts 18 inches to Over 6 Feet in 3 Seconds Using the Rize 3D printed pulley/sprocket part, FRC Team 1257’s robot successfully collected 4 [...]