Metrology Minute – Batch Processing
Control X is a powerful metrology product with dozens of inspection tools available including; 2D and 3D dimensioning, GD&T analysis, color maps, Whisker plots, and many more. After all of the inspection tools are deployed for a specific inspection plan, you can create a date and time-stamped report, serialized for a particular part scan. This ensures that the inspection report of a single-part scan against a nominal CAD model is correctly identified and stored. But how does this process work when you have 10, 100, or even 1,000 scans to inspect against the same nominal CAD model? Repeating the inspection process manually over and over again would be extremely time-consuming, not to mention very tedious. This is where the Control X Batch Processing comes into play! Batch processing is a workflow in Control X whereby you can launch an unmanned inspection process to be applied to as many part scans as required. How Does Control X Batch Processing Work? First, you prepare the inspection for the very first manufactured part scan. All of the inspection tools are deployed and applied to that very first part scan, including the all-important Initial Alignment followed by a Datum Alignment. The idea being the Initial Alignment will [...]
Deviation Location Tool in Control X
Today’s post will cover the Deviation Location tool in Geomagic Control X. This tool creates a Best Fit Surface over an area of interest and enables you to analyze isolated areas on a part for wear, dents, bumps, corrosion, etc. While Reference Data is not required for this function, it is recommended. This tool takes measurements in an isolated location of the part and requires the existence of either a coordinate system or two vectors that will be used to form a Coordinate System. The first step for using this function is to identify the two vectors or the coordinate system. Once the coordinate system is identified, you can specify the coordinate plane relative to those two vectors, or in our case, to the predefined coordinate system. Check for wear on the mounting and on the flat surface of the pump cover and after selecting the two flat areas of interesting geometry in question, hit the Apply button. The two selections on the Measured data will then be displayed. Please note that in order to control the scope of the size of the dent or deformation, you can use the slider called Local Search Scope. If you only need to identify smaller dents, [...]
Analyzing Airfoil Shapes With Control X Airfoil Analysis
Today’s blog post will show you that analyzing airfoil shapes is easier than ever using the Geomagic Control X Airfoil Analysis technology. Once you complete an airfoil scan and align with the nominal CAD model, the software is able to return dozens of useful parameters. These parameters are necessary for a complete airfoil analysis and some of them include: Leading and trailing edge radii Leading and trailing edge positions in space Maximum chord height Leading (and trailing) Edge position in space relative to the model origin Axial chord length Additionally, leading and trailing edge thicknesses, as well as maximum airfoil thickness across the widest section, may be easily requested by using this powerful tool. This makes completing airfoil analysis simple requiring only a few clicks of the mouse. Furthermore, analyzing airfoils often requires identifying points along a section’s periphery and comparing those to the corresponding points from the nominal CAD model. Deploying the Comparison Point function in Control X, this too is handled by just a click or two of the mouse. Please check out our Control X – Comparison Point Analysis video to learn more about how that tool can be utilized. As you can see, Geomagic Control X continues to deliver [...]
Mastercam Network License Borrow Utility
This post will show you how to use the Mastercam Network License Borrowing utility when using a networkable software license for Mastercam. In previous versions of Mastercam’s Licensing, there were 2 options: a single-user USB HASP key and a NetHASP USB key which gave access to multiple users. Now, Mastercam has moved to using software licensing keys. These licenses support Mastercam’s 2019 to present versions and support similar licensing styles. They include local, individual-use software licenses and also networkable software license pools. With the introduction of software licensing, it is now possible to borrow a license from the pool of licenses hosted on a network software license. The borrowed licenses will be checked out and stored on a local computer for offline or remote use. To use this option you must first be sure that Mastercam is closed on the system you wish to borrow a license for. Then you can launch the License Borrow Utility from the Start menu. This is located in the Mastercam Licensing Utilities folder. Now, just launch the License Borrow Utility and you will see the licenses that are available for borrowing. Before selecting the license that you want to borrow, first, select File and then open Options. [...]
How To Color 3D-Printed Resin and SLS Parts
This blog post will show you how to color 3D-printed parts using very simple dye. You can dye most SLS and SLA printed parts with off-the-shelf dyes to create a wide spectrum of colors and finishes. When it comes to engineering-grade 3D printers, you are often limited in choosing a color for the final product. Since most engineering materials focus on mechanical properties over aesthetics, you are often left with a white or gray part. By using an all-purpose dye, such as a Rit brand dye, you can dye your parts with just about whatever color you can think of. All you need is a container for the dye and some hot water. Start by gathering all of your materials and get the part you would like to dye. In our example, we used a durable resin part from a Formlabs 3D printer. Next, you will need to find a container that can hold the dye. You may use a small pot or a plastic container. After acquiring your container, you will need to heat up some water. A sous vide tool can work great in a pinch, but we used a support removal tank for large batches of dyed parts. Now it’s [...]
Which Metal 3D Printing Technology is Best for You?
Bound Metal Deposition™ (BMD) vs. Binder Jetting Metal 3D printing can be transformational, unlocking new design freedoms for part innovations and allowing for tooling-free production of spare parts or new product iterations. From office-friendly 3D printing without loose powder on the Studio System to the fast speeds of the world’s best-selling metal binder jetting machine, the Shop System, Desktop Metal has the technologies that offer the perfect fit to get started with metal 3D printing and the expertise to help you scale up to production. Learn more about two easy-to-adopt types of metal 3D printing from Desktop Metal. What is Bound Metal? Bound Metal Deposition™ (BMD) is an extrusion-based 3D printing process where metal powder held together by wax and polymer binder in pre-bound rods is heated and extruded onto a build plate, shaping a part layer-by-layer in an office-friendly process. Once printed, the part is sintered causing the metal particles to densify. What is Binder Jetting? Binder jetting uses an industrial printhead to selectively deposit liquid binder onto thin layers of powder particles before densification in a sintering furnace. Its speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness, particularly when compared to many laser-based technologies, make it a good choice for scaling additive to production. Click [...]