Entering 2023 – A Letter from our CEO
We all made it through another year! With 2022 in our rearview mirror I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing to partner with Cimquest! We at Cimquest do not take our relationships lightly. Each and every day I know that we owe it to our customers and partners to prove our continued value to your businesses. It is our job to make that happen! The world is becoming more and more complicated every day. I seem to wrestle with the world that was and the world we are to become. The "world that was" contained very valuable substance. You could easily reach a live person at any business entity that you chose to patronize. The "world in which we are becoming" is one where the personal touch has been lost or relegated to chatbots, AI’s, FAQ’s, self-assisted forums, and at best a maze of call center menus that lead to dead ends. Someday the technology will mature and our AI will support your AI while we all are drinking Margaritas on the beach. However, for now, we are here for you! This reminds me of the old joke where the factory of the future is run by just [...]
Metrology Minute – Control X Plot Comparison
The Control X Plot Comparison Tool will analyze the thickness, curvature, and angle of Measured data (point cloud or mesh) and uses color mapping to display the results. You can also pinpoint specific point locations on the model to return actual values for the plot being reviewed, at those specified locations. One of the unique aspects of this tool is it does not require Reference data. All calculations utilize a single Measured mesh or point cloud for the analysis. Measuring Wall Thickness If you want to ensure the top blade edge of the turbine shown below never drops below a .050” wall thickness, you can deploy the Plot tool, and use both color maps and selected points. Control X can return the wall thickness at specified locations. For the image shown below, the min and max Range is set to +/-.050”, meaning if the color is dark red, the wall thicknesses for each blade is, at least .050” thick. You can see where one of the analysis points near the blade’s edge where the thickness does drop below .050”. By increasing the Min/Max Range to +/-.100”, you can see how the color map now appears much more revealing as to what is actually [...]
Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) Using SOLIDWORKS & Control X
This blog post will explore the Product Manufacturing Information (or PMI) model generated in Solidworks and how it may be used to automate the inspection process in Control X. PMI is a fairly new tool that enables manufacturing information to remain with CAD models through downstream applications. Traditionally, the Control X user would need to enter all dimensional and datum information manually. By implementing PMI, all manufacturing information flows seamlessly from CAD to inspection, thereby accelerating the complete process and minimizing the risk of entering wrong values. The manufacturing information controlling the inspection process is entered just one time and is used throughout the design and inspection process. In this example, we have a Solidworks model of a connecting arm. The model contains PMI information. Specifically, it shows the features that will be used as datums, GD&T callouts for Flatness, and standard dimensions with tolerances. In Control X, we can import the Solidworks model containing the PMI information. The import shows if the three datums, six dimensions with tolerances assigned, and two GD&T callouts, along with the native CAD model, have all successfully imported into Control X. Control X refers to the nominal CAD model as the REF or Reference data and the [...]
Unlimited Tomorrow Makes High-tech Prosthetics More Accessible
Medical device startup develops and manufactures its TrueLimb® robotic prosthetic device by leveraging HP’s MJF 3D printing technology and working with partners including ABCorp and Singularity Group. Learn how medical device startup Unlimited Tomorrow recently partnered with ABCorp to additively manufacture components for the TrueLimb® robotic prosthetic. ABCorp operates a fleet of HP Jet Fusion 5210 3D printers and utilizes them to provide Unlimited Tomorrow with more consistent parts, faster and less expensively—enabling them to scale and ultimately fulfill their global mission of augmenting the human body with better technology. Download the case study below. Thank you for Signing Up Download the Desktop Metal Material Guide Please complete this form to access the PDF Download. Please correct the marked field(s) below. * 1,true,6,Lead Email,2 1,false,1,Zip Code,2 *Required fields Note: It is our responsibility to protect your privacy and we guarantee that your data will be completely confidential.
Desktop Metal Secures Major Contract with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Desktop Metal recently announced a three-year, multimillion-dollar contract with the Veterans Health Administration to develop, test, and manufacture a variety of 3D printed healthcare products with a revolutionary new FreeFoam™ material. Under a contract with the Veterans Health Administration, Desktop Metal will develop, test, and manufacture a variety of 3D printed healthcare products with a revolutionary new FreeFoam™ material. Shown here, FreeFoam parts can be 3D printed at a fraction of their final desired size and expanded when ready for use, minimizing storage and warehouse needs and allowing for custom foam products. (Photo: Business Wire) FreeFoam is currently being printed exclusively on the ETEC Xtreme 8K top-down DLP printing system, with broad commercial availability slated for 2023. ETEC is Desktop Metal’s industrial polymer brand. The VA will receive an Xtreme 8K, as well as a variety of other equipment, in addition to development and design support for the project. The initial contract award, for $2 million, has the potential to grow to $7 million after successful phase-gate deliveries. “Desktop Metal is proud to partner with the Veterans Health Administration on this visionary project to advance health care, logistics, and decentralized manufacturing with our new 3D printing technology at production volumes,” said [...]
CNC Milling vs. Manual Milling
What are the benefits of CNC milling over manual milling? Milling is a manufacturing process in which a part is made by the removal of material around it, specifically by advancing a cutting tool into stock material to cut away the excess. In the vast majority of milling applications, the cutting tool rotates at incredibly fast speeds. It can be used to shave parts down, drill or tap holes, and more. Milling is one of the most commonly used processes in the subtractive manufacturing family. The main difference between manual milling and CNC milling is how the machine’s motion is directed. Manual machines are controlled by human operators, and CNC machines are controlled by computer programs. What is manual milling? Manual milling is the predecessor of CNC milling, but it still has its place in some machining shops. When a machinist operates a manual machine, they do so by controlling the cutter or workpiece entirely themselves. Most often, this means rotating the X- or Y-axis feed handles to directly move the material as the cutting tool is held stationary and spins at a set height. If you remember how to use an Etch-a-Sketch, you have a rough idea of how this works. The [...]