Using Carbon Fiber Composites to Enhance Jigs and Fixtures
Jigs and fixtures are essential tools on any assembly floor, test lab, or machine shop. In this article, we will discuss what they are and how you can supercharge your jigs and fixtures by 3D printing them using carbon fiber composites. What are jigs and fixtures? Before diving into the benefits of carbon fiber composite 3D printing, let's clarify what jigs and fixtures are and why they are critical aids that can make the manufacturing process more efficient, precise, and safe. Jigs A jig is a custom-made tool that is employed to ensure precision and repeatability in manual processes like drilling, welding, and assembly. The primary purpose of a jig is to maintain consistency when producing duplicate parts and ensuring that each part aligns perfectly with the others. Simply put, a jig acts as a template, guiding the tool to the correct position on a workpiece. Fixtures Unlike jigs, fixtures are used to hold a workpiece in place during operations. They ensure that the piece remains stationary, allowing tools or machines to function accurately. Fixtures are specifically designed to fit a particular part or shape, ensuring that the workpiece is held in the exact position and orientation required for the manufacturing process. An [...]
You’re Invited to a 3D Printing BBQ
Food, Fun & Filament: An FFF 3D Printing Event Join us on October 18th at our headquarters in Branchburg, NJcim for a mouthwatering adventure as we combine the smoky delights of a BBQ feast with the cutting-edge wonders of the UltiMaker Method XL 3D printer. Tantalize your taste buds and spark your creativity with this free event. Immerse yourself in the world of 3D printing with a close-up look at our three dedicated 3D printer rooms. During the tour, you'll have the opportunity to engage with our 3D printing experts and gain invaluable knowledge about all of our 3D printer solutions, including the Method XL. Witness the future of manufacturing with an educational presentation given by our experts on the trends in 3D printing that lead to the Method XL and how it fits within these trends. The Method XL is good for intricate prototypes to functional parts with its large build envelope and unmatched reliability. Free Registration Here
Deploying the Measure Functions within Control X Professional
In this month’s Metrology Minute, we are going to explore the various measurement tools available within Control X. Most of the time, when inspecting parts using Control X, we compare feature sizes and shapes to nominal CAD models. However, the Measure Tool allows you to request typically required measurements needed for analyzing manufactured part features, such as calculating rough distances. Two points are selected on the mesh or point cloud data and the distance between these points is returned. Additionally, various alignment tools are also offered with some of the Measurement Tool options. In this case, we just want a distance calculation with no axis modifier used for alignment. The information is returned to the Measurement Node in the Model Manager, to then be used in reporting. Each of the Measure options will appear in this same Measurement node. The Measure Angle function enables you to select three points from the mesh or point cloud and Control X will return the angle between them. When measuring the angle from an analytic shape, the Fitting Geometry checkbox can be selected to allow the result to be best fit to an analytic part feature. In the case of the airfoil, analytic geometry isn’t used. The [...]
Meltio Additive Manufacturing Technology Recieves Awards
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded the unique and patented metal 3D printing technology of the Spanish multinational metal additive manufacturing leader solutions Meltio, which means the recognition as a “strategic technology partner” in the current and future development plans of that country in the military and security field. This is the first time that a Spanish company has received this award in the field of additive manufacturing, which allows printing and repairing parts using 3D printing, solving possible logistical problems and providing manufacturing autonomy, and improving the supply chains of parts in the defense sector. This award consolidates Meltio’s relationship with the U.S. Army and increases its possibilities of having a relationship with other U.S. defense departments and also with armies of other countries. Meltio’s goal is to become a technological reference in 3D printing of metal by welding wire (known as DED, directed energy deposition for the creation of metal parts layer by layer by laser fused deposition). Ángel Llavero López de Villalta, CEO of Meltio, said: “The award we have received is a recognition to Meltio’s professionals and gives reliability to our technology. For us, the military sector is a sector that allows us to bring together all the [...]
Formlabs is Expanding Their 3D Printing Materials
Formlabs has recently expanded their 3D printing materials library. Their mission is to expand access to digital fabrication, so anyone can make anything. This mission has led them to create new resins like their Flame Retardant Resin and BioMed Durable Resin which have expanded the capabilities of Formlabs' SLA printers. Now, Formlabs has created two new Resins that will change the game for a lot of applications. Introducing Alumina 4N Resin and Silicone 40A Resin. Alumina 4N Resin is a high-density and high-purity technical ceramic 3D printing material with exceptional performance in extreme environments: thermally resistant, hard, abrasion resistant, mechanically strong, and chemically inert. Embrace the future of ceramic engineering with the most affordable ceramic 3D printing ecosystem in the world. Introduce the power of 3D printing to manufacture your advanced ceramic components without expensive tooling, and reduce production costs and lead times while increasing design freedom. Silicone 40A Resin is the first accessible 100% silicone 3D printing resin. Eliminate molding and labor-intensive casting processes: Silicone 40A Resin uses Formlabs’ patent-pending Pure Silicone Technology™ to 3D print pure silicone parts in-house, in a matter of hours. Combine the high performance of silicone and the design freedom of 3D printing to create highly functional [...]
Desktop Metal Qualifies Copper Alloy C18150 for 3D Printing
Desktop Metal partners with global automotive manufacturer and leading material supplier to qualify Copper Alloy C18150 Copper is a highly sought-after, versatile material in metal additive manufacturing, as it can be used in a wide range of applications, from electrical conductors to welding tips, and in more recent investigations as combustion chamber liners. Combining the benefits of 3D printing, such as new design freedoms, with the material properties of copper opens new possibilities and demand for the fabrication of thermal control components. Desktop Metal, in partnership with a global automotive manufacturer and Sandvik Osprey, has qualified binder jetting copper alloy C18150 on a Production System™ P-1 research-and-development system for a production component. Finding the Right Copper Pure copper can be a challenging material to process to high density with the binder jetting process, though many customers desire to take advantage of the geometric freedom and lower costs of 3D printing this conductive material. Copper alloy C18150 uses chromium and zirconium as the primary alloying elements to offer a unique combination of exceptional physical and mechanical properties. The high-performance alloy delivers the strength and hardness, together with the outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity, that many customers seek for thermal transfer applications. The material is [...]