De-risking Industrial 3D Printing with a Simple, Repeatable Simulation Workflow
Radical weight reduction, enhanced performance, and short lead times. These are just a few advantages that drive aerospace companies to adopt 3D printing. But one major challenge is deterring them from fully committing to the technology – the hefty price of mistakes. The materials alone are so expensive that printing a single part sometimes costs tens of thousands of dollars. Additionally, aerospace parts need to comply with exacting standards where the tolerance for errors is low. Mistakes that would be considered insignificant in other industries are inadmissible in aerospace. The high cost of printing underscores the need to reduce the likelihood of mistakes and de-risk additive manufacturing. Simulation is part of the solution. With the simulation and compensation tools in Oqton’s 3DXpert software and a simple workflow, you can print parts right in record time and eliminate material waste. Capturing additive manufacturing expertise In the infancy of additive manufacturing, the risk of build failure, deformation or overheating was simply something manufacturers needed to accept. With time, experts gained sufficient process knowledge to avoid common pitfalls. Today their experience is captured in simulation tools, enabling users to identify and prevent problems before they occur. However, not all simulation tools are made equal. If you [...]
New UltiMaker Cura 5.8 Beta Enables Better Z Seams and More
Another Cura release has arrived and in this 5.8 beta release, the focus is on improving Z seams, as well as completing support for the full Method series of printers by introducing a profile for the UltiMaker Method. Z seams look better than ever thanks to new settings New settings have been added that let you tweak how and where the Z seam is placed. The settings are: Z Seam On Vertex Seam Overhang Angle Support Z Seam Away From Model When “User Selected” or “Shortest” is selected as your Z seam location option, the Z seam will follow the selected (or shortest) position exactly. However, when the new “Z Seam On Vertex” option is selected, the Z seam will instead be placed on the nearest vertices (usually a corner). This allows you to hide your Z seam on areas of your model where it will not be so noticeable. You can see this behavior in the following image: Left: Z Seam On Vertex disabled, right: Z Seam On Vertex enabled The new “Seam Overhang Angle” allows you to choose an angle after which seams will not be printed on overhangs (including when “Z Seam On Vertex” is selected). This improves [...]
Improving the Surface Finish for 3D printed parts with the AMT PostPro SFX
Cimquest’s Desktop Vapor Smoothing System the PostPro SFX from AMT is now operational. Which means that our application engineers are now capable of running benchmarks for customers who want to see how this technology and process will work for them. What is “vapor smoothing”? A solvent is vaporized in a chamber under carefully controlled conditions. The vapor evenly condenses on the external surfaces (and internal if there is line-of-sight) of 3D printed thermoplastic parts. This reduces or eliminates the layer lines created by 3D printing by softening the surfaces and filling-in the gaps between the peaks and valleys; it also seals the surfaces. The resultant benefits of vapor smoothing are: Reduction of surface roughness – as much as 420% (comparable to injection molding). Improvement of mechanical properties – up to 3X (improvements in elongation at break and tensile strength). Seals the surfaces – great for applications that require water tightness or sterilization. Who is AMT? (Additive Manufacturing Technologies) AMT has been producing industrial post processing equipment for nearly a decade. Their vapor smoothing technology is used to enhance and improve the surface finish, appearance as well as the mechanical properties of parts produced by additive manufacturing. While it is beneficial to organizations that [...]
Five Tips to Streamline Your Workflow in Mastercam 2025
Mastercam 2025, the latest edition of the world’s leading CAD/CAM software, makes programming fast and easy. The latest release prioritizes streamlining workflow so that the entire machining process – from design to QC – is as efficient as possible. Explore these tips and features to help you maximize the benefits of Mastercam 2025! 1. Saving and Loading Machine Configurations In Mastercam 2025, Mill-Turn users now have the capability to save unique machine configurations into individual files, streamlining setup for new projects. This advancement is super useful when processing families of parts or when you have tools and fixturing that rarely leave the machine. Your configuration file can be stored anywhere on your workstation! Power users can store the configuration right in the Mill-Turn’s respective .machine file under the “Machine Configuration” files node. 2. Analyze Deviation Mastercam 2025 introduces a new suite of tools designed to help analyze your CAD models. The new Analyze Deviation function includes an assortment of tools to help measure distances between multiple entities. Whether you need to measure distances between surfaces, curves, or points –this function can help identify distances between any combination of these entities and display the results in an easy-to-read graphical interface. The Analyze Deviation function [...]
Metrology Minute – Relocating a CAD Model for Inspection
Very often, when a part is designed in CAD, in terms of its orientation and origin, it isn’t necessarily where it needs to be oriented in the final assembly. Therefore, inspection values may not reveal the true picture as to what is needed regarding inspection data. Let’s consider this crankshaft below. The CAD designer created this sub-assembly with the part’s origin as shown. Then, any distance or location dimensions shown in the inspection will be relative to this sub-assembly origin. Let’s now go through the steps of relocating the sub-assembly to the correct location in the vehicle so dimensions are evaluated properly. The three green lines below represent the location point and orientation of where the sub-assembly of the crankshaft needs to move. From the CAD tab, select Transform Body. Select the CAD model and select the arrow in the menu to continue forward through the command. We used the Interactive Alignment method to reposition the crankshaft to the proper location in the vehicle. After selecting Interactive Alignment, select the XYZ option. The screen will then divide into two sections. Select the X-Axis option and then select the horizontal vector as shown below. Do the same by selecting the Y-Axis vector and the [...]
Freeform Volumetric Software Reshapes Heads – and Lives
In recent years, volumetric CAD packages have emerged as the tool of choice for medical modeling. Oqton Freeform, one such volumetric CAD package, is well suited to give designers speed and design freedom with complex, organically shaped objects such as those found in the human body. When a defect, deformity, or injury alters cranial bones, surgeons need a unique blend of engineering and artistry to return the human face to its former aesthetics. Advances in volumetric CAD technology are allowing traditional CAD manufacturing principles to meet complex medical modeling needs that formerly couldn’t be handled digitally — like reshaping the human skull. These advances let biomedical engineers digitally sculpt a custom cranial implant or surgical guide with the best fit and function for each patient. A new breed of rapid-product-development firms provides doctors and patients with such surgical guides and custom implants faster and more cost-effectively, thanks to advances in rapid manufacturing techniques and biocompatible materials. Despite readily available digital medical imaging files such as CT scans and MRIs, patient-specific implants and surgical guides are still primarily made by hand in small labs. Organizations usually can’t support volume demand for digital fabrication devices to justify their cost. Labs cut, grind and manually shape [...]