Freeform Webinar Redefining Patient-Specific 3D Design
Oqton Freeform is the industry’s most comprehensive design software for products across many healthcare specialties. With Freeform you can: Design in hours, not days. Break through the limitations of traditional CAD systems with Freeform’s intuitive UI to unlock the incredible advantages of working in the digital world. Please join us for this upcoming webinar. Redefining Patient-Specific 3D Design February 21st, 2024 – 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST In this webinar, experts from Oqton and Cimquest will showcase two powerful, digital, and organic design workflows using Oqton's Freeform. We will demonstrate the creation of a craniomaxillofacial implant and its associated cutting guides as well as the design of a custom ankle-foot orthotic. Freeform is the industry’s most comprehensive design software for products across many healthcare specialties. Solve your patient-specific design challenges in the digital world. Register Here
Innovation in Metal 3D Printing: A Look into Our Thriving Partnership with Xact Metal
While the growth of larger players in the metal 3D printing industry has plateaued during the last year, Cimquest’s metal 3DP business has grown 69% year over year. Some of the reasons for that growth are largely due to the popularity of Xact Metal’s printers and the relationship they cultivate with their customers and resellers. Xact Metal offers a unique value proposition; a high quality, easy-to-implement machine that is an excellent entry point into metal additive or to expand your current metal 3D printing capabilities. Thanks to this strong partnership, Cimquest has maintained our position of being Xact Metal’s #1 Global Partner for three years in a row! Additionally, we recently sold our XM200C demo unit and are looking forward to the delivery of our brand new XM200G printer in our Branchburg, NJ office. The XM200G is a greatly enhanced version of the proven, easy-to-use, and cost-effective design of the XM200C metal 3D printer. It incorporates a high-performance galvanometer system that moves the laser beam over the powder bed. This architecture provides faster printing speeds and supports multiple lasers with higher power output (up to two 400-watt fiber lasers). This combination allows for an expanded materials portfolio as well as a larger build [...]
Utilizing Construction Features for Theoretical Intersections in Control X
Inspection drawings will often have dimensions created to a theoretical intersection. What this means is that the dimension references one or more points in space that aren’t physically on the model. What do you do in situations like this? Let's explore this in the example below. Using the screenshot below, let's assume that we need to dimension to locations in space where these lines would theoretically intersect if extended. Below you can see the theoretical intersection points of the lines referenced, created using Construction Features in Control X. Linear Dimensions 9, 10 and 11 were produced as intersections of two lines on the CAD model to extract their intersection points. As long as those model edges are obtainable from the scan, 2D dimensions from these theoretical intersections can be added anywhere on the model. See below for an illustration. Please contact Joel Pollet with any questions or to explore more details about Control X. More Info on Control X
Mastercam Creates Nike of Samothrace Statue
The Winged Victory or Nike of Samothrace is a statue prominently featured in The Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Mastercam recently teamed up with YASDA Precision, Mitsubishi Materials, and Methods Machine Tools to create an 11-inch replication of the famed 18-foot statue. Within Mastercam, the statue is a mesh file with over five million facets and was 10 gigabytes in size. Mastercam took the part from a raw piece of stock all the way to a finished part. “I have never made a part of this caliber in my life” said Mastercam Sales Engineer II, Chad Chmura. The overall cycle time on this project was over 110 hours –just under five straight days! Since this piece was such a large file, Mastercam created a series of videos on their YouTube Channel to demonstrate the different Mastercam tools used in the making of it, and how those tools are the exact same that you have access to as a Mastercam user. Here are several highlights of Mastercam features used to create this amazing piece. Detect Undercut Stock Mastercam’s OptiRough toolpath was used to kickstart the roughing phase of the statue. In Mastercam 2023, the Detect Undercut Stock checkbox was introduced, which allows you [...]
What’s the Value of a Multi-purpose Tool Like Metal Binder Jet 3D Printing?
Just like there’s no one tool to fit every job, 3D printing isn’t a panacea that’s right for every job either. And while the benefits of binder jet 3D printing can often be measured – customers routinely reduce the weight of their parts by 30 – 40% using our technology – much of the return on investment (ROI) of binder jetting lies in the complex intangibles and specific applications, or where one operates in the supply chain. One often hears that 3D printing is “another tool in the manufacturer's toolbox.” And just like there’s no one tool to fit every job, 3D printing isn’t a panacea that’s right for every job either. So, additive manufacturing isn’t going to completely replace CNC machining and shutter every machine shop. Rather, binder jet 3D printing is a way of harnessing metal – or other materials like technical ceramics and sand – to additively produce complex shapes in a way that’s uniquely different and beneficial from other tools that already exist in a manufacturer’s toolbox. It’s a digital manufacturing solution that eliminates hard tooling or consolidates complicated assemblies and is a powerful addition to any production facility looking to be more efficient in its use of existing machinery or [...]
Exploring the Mastercam Add-Ons? Part Two
In part one of this blog series, we discussed what Mastercam Add-Ons are (specialized aftermarket software kits that work within the Mastercam interface) and covered four of the most commonly used Add-Ons: Multiaxis, Productivity+, Port Expert, and Mastercam Art. This second blog in the series will cover five more popular Add-Ons and how to use them. 5-Axis Curve Machining This particular Add-On is considered a great starting point for entering into the multiaxis world. It pairs with almost any 5-axis machine and equips them with predefined, tested cutting approaches. 5-Axis Curve Machining’s hallmarks are logical tool motion, smooth transitions, and strong vector control. In a word, it is safe. This is essential where parts require more complex toolpaths and higher tool axis control: any multiaxis part. 5-Axis Curve Machining operates by optimizing how the tool engages with the stock material. This means that the toolpath is controlled and safe even as the tool travels over dynamic or complex curves. Parts machined with this Add-On will show superior surface finishes, and their cycle times will be greatly decreased. APlus While Mastercam’s focus is predominantly on subtractive machining – in which material is cut away to “reveal” the part – the Add-On Mastercam Aplus® by [...]