Production 3D Printing with HP Multi Jet Fusion
The release of the HP Multi Jet Fusion platform makes production 3D printing a reality, and the new Jet Fusion 5200 is on the forefront of this paradigm shift. For the first time, 3D printing was now a viable option for larger-scale production. Let's take a look at how the process works. The 5200 series features a printer, build unit, and processing station similar to the 4200 model but brings superior part predictability and reliability. For part predictability, the 5200 can be qualified to meet the process capability for a CPK of 1.33 or IT13, allowing for consistent part tolerances. To increase reliability, this system has redundancies and more robust hardware and software to complete your builds. Some examples are multiple fusing lamps and redundant motors, as well as a higher resolution thermal camera. The 5200 has a new 1-pass printing mode which gives faster building speed, without compromising on mechanical and dimensional properties. Another innovative new feature is HP's 3D natural cooling unit. Once a job is finished job it can be transferred to the natural cooling unit and then stored to cool. This frees up the build unit to be used for the next job immediately, so you can keep printing [...]
Coolant Delivery Methods for CNC Machines
Coolant has three purposes for CNC machines. To cool To lubricate To flush chips away from the cutting tool. There are 3 typical delivery methods, flood, air, and mist and each is affected by pressure and volume. Flood is the most common method, which is directed either at the tool, through the tool, or both. Flood delivery is the best method to provide cooling, lubrication and is good at chip flushing. As coolant pressure increases so does the ability to flush chips and remove heat. In drilling, as you drill larger diameter holes you need more volume to fill the hole that is being created and as you drill deeper more pressure is needed to flush chips. A straight air blast is great for clearing chips and is OK for cooling but lacks any lubrication needed for specific materials. High-Pressure coolant is a flood method at 1,000 psi or more and allows increased feed rate, instant part cooling and amazing chip evacuation but can break smaller diameter tools. You also need a coolant designed for high pressure because it intensifies foaming. High pressure must be applied in an enclosed machine otherwise you will have coolant everywhere but in the coolant tank. A mist [...]
What’s New in Mastercam 2020 Solids
Mastercam 2020 includes many advances to boost your productivity and help streamline your manufacturing process from job setup to job completion. Solids enhancements in Mastercam 2020 include numerous improvements to the Solid Hole function. Additionally, Boolean now recognizes if you have pre-selected the Target, or not, and you can now select multiple Tool Bodies. Let’s look at both new features . . . Mastercam 2020 includes many enhancements to the Solid Hole function. Assign Colors You can now assign colors to Solid Hole operations. Feature color can be saved as part of a custom hole definition when you add a hole to a Presets list. Click the Advanced tab and select Color to modify the operation. This enhancement is especially useful when automating drilling operations with ProDrill. Associativity A new option allows you to make Solid Hole operation positions that were created using Mastercam 2019 associative. To update operations made in Mastercam 2019, edit the Solid Hole operation, select the Advanced tab, and Update. The Hole Position Associativity parameter updates from Non-associative to Associative. Mastercam creates point entities if no points or arc centers were associated with the original operation. New Selection Controls Solid Hole has two new selection controls: Add AutoCursor Position: [...]
New IMCO Tool Libraries Available for Mastercam
The world's largest CAM community is growing. Mastercam recently announced a new partnership with IMCO Carbide Tool. IMCO Carbide Tool (IMCO) is an American manufacturing company that researches, designs, and manufactures high-performance cutting tools for a variety of applications in the aerospace, automotive, medical, petrochemical, and manufacturing industries. As a result of this partnership, Mastercam users will gain immediate access to IMCO milling tools as a native Mastercam tool database for Mastercam 2019 and beyond. These tools offer the latest innovations from IMCO. Mastercam users can download IMCO tool libraries from the Mastercam Tech Exchange. This will deliver quick access to IMCO performance milling tools from within the world's most widely used CAM software. To visit the Mastercam Tech Exchange, please click the button below. Mastercam Tech Exchange
Cimquest Continues to Support the Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship
We are proud to continue our support for the Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship. It provides the opportunity for highly motivated students to earn the opportunity to attend the Additive Manufacturing User Group (AMUG) conference. Guy E. Bourdeau Scholars are honest, respectful, inquisitive and collaborative. The scholarship honors the memory of Guy E. Bourdeau for his dedication and contribution to the additive manufacturing industry. He was a strong supporter and advocate of the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG). The scholarship was founded in Guy’s name by his wife, Renée Bourdeau, to honor his contributions to the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. This scholarship covers the cost of participating in the 2020 AMUG Conference to be held in Chicago, Illinois, from March 22-26; this includes: Conference registration fee Access to keynote presentations, technical sessions and workshops Invitation to the Technical Competition and Innovator’s Showcase Networking breakfasts, lunches, and dinners Entrance to the AMUGexpo, Off-Site Dinner and Event Countless networking opportunities Access to mobile app, online planner and conference proceedings Exclusive AMUG volunteering opportunities with the AMUG Executive Board Accommodation at the designated conference hotel for the entire time you are in Chicago Airline ticket (Economy Class) and transportation from the airport to the conference hotel This [...]
Xpand3D 3D Printing Panel
At the recent Xpand3D event we hosted a very informative 3D Printing panel which featured an in-depth discussion on how some of the most innovative companies are incorporating 3D Printing into their manufacturing process. The presenters included Zac Holcomb, President & Co-Founder of Additive America, Jason Enos, CEO and founder of Empire Group, Jeff Guida, President & CEO of ShareRoller, David Silverstein, Manager of Rapid Prototype Lab, iRobot, and moderator Brent Ewald, Application Engineer at HP 3D Printing. If you missed the event and would like to watch the discussion, just click the video link below.