Integrating Production-level Metal 3D Printing Into a Traditional CNC Machine Shop
Based in Karnes City, Texas, PGV has more than three decades of experience manufacturing equipment for the oil and gas, aerospace and robotics, and automation industries. Along with traditional manufacturing via CNC machining, the company is now moving into next-generation processes by integrating production-level metal 3D printing into their capabilities. “We could have chosen to invest in more CNC lathes or CNC mills, but we chose to go the additive manufacturing route because energy is changing. The whole world is changing and we have to be able to pivot with it.” - Ramon Perales, President of PVG Oil Tools You can learn more about how the Desktop Metal Shop System enabled PGV to grow its business and create more agile, efficient operations by watching the video below.
3D Printed Silicon Carbide Enables Safer Nuclear Power Generation
A reprint from Additive Manufacturing. Binder jetting provides a way to create pure silicon carbide fuel structures that can withstand the harsh environment of a nuclear reactor and provide a strong barrier against the release of radionuclides. Dr. Kurt Terrani, the executive vice president at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation’s Core Division, was on the team that developed a process for 3D printing silicon carbide at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. USNC licensed the technology for use in making Micro Modular Reactors. As we continue to feel the impacts of climate change, finding alternative sources of energy that don’t involve burning fossil fuels is an important part of reducing and mitigating its effects. Renewables such as wind, solar and hydro power can provide clean sources of energy, but they might not be able to provide enough power. Some scientists are now turning to nuclear as a promising source of power that doesn’t generate greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the nuclear power plants in use right now were built in the 1950s and 1960s, and are scheduled to be phased out soon. Building new plants using the same outdated technology will require large amounts of land, money and time. So researchers have begun developing [...]
3DGence Material Management System Automates 3D Printing Material Prep
Automate the correct preparation of your materials for accurate, strong, and high-quality parts. The MMS enables connected productivity, repeatability and full traceability of the printing process. 3DGence MMS automates material storage, preparation, and post-print annealing – making successful printing of Ultra-Polymers like PEEK, ULTEM™, and Composites accurate and simplified. As the shift from prototyping to end-use parts has become a reality through industrial grade 3D printers and advanced materials, automation and pre-configuration ensures print success. Improper handling and preparation of materials can result in moisture creep, print failures, warping, and low visual quality – resulting in inaccurate parts and significantly reduced productivity. You can ensure print productivity, part integrity, and the highest quality with the 3DGence Material Management System. Some of the features of the Material Management System include: Process control and print traceability Select materials from the Certified Open Material Database and register them to get full material traceability. Each spool of material purchased from 3DGence is equipped with an NFC tag with a Unique ID. Once selected, the material is registered by scanning to the MMS and integrated with 3DGence CONNECT. The material associated to the print is traced in the print process and can be viewed on the MMS or [...]
Join Desktop Metal for a Metal 3D Printing Webinar
Metal 3D printing enables machine shops to cost-effectively 3D print end-use metal parts with unparalleled speed and productivity. Mass production metal 3D printing solutions offer service bureaus and machine shops an opportunity to service a broader set of customers with an expanded array of applications, ranging from one-offs to batch (or even mass) production of metal parts. Benefits such as assembly consolidation and geometric freedom allows service bureaus to extend the benefits of metal 3D printing to their customers. Join Desktop Metal on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 2 pm ET for this webinar to discuss solutions that 3D printing provides for machine shops and service bureaus. In this webinar you will learn: How 3D printing enables cost-effective production of metal parts See a variety of post-processed 3D printed parts Applications and customer case studies How 3D printing can eliminate the need for tooling to help reduce costs and labor time Register Here
Batch Processing in Control X
In previous Metrology Minutes, we have gone through Control X basic inspection processes and techniques but what about when we need to inspect more than one of the same parts or assemblies, utilizing the same inspection program (inspection plan)? That’s where Batch Processing in Control X comes in very handy. Completely unmanned, Control X can open successive files (scans or point clouds) in a folder or you can select from various files contained in several folders to inspect them all against the same nominal CAD model and inspection plan. Batch Processing Menu Use the Add Files or Add Folders tab to select the scans or point clouds, to be selected for inspection. The Target Result allows you to select the specific Results file you wish to use if more than one exists in the Control X inspection program. The Output option allows you to save the model, print the report as well as export the report. If Print or Export is selected, the file formats then become active for selection. You may then select the Output Destination for the individual, serialized reports. You may then select a file naming convention for the inspection files that get automatically generated by either using the MEAsured [...]
Cimquest Opens Newly Remodeled Butler PA Office
We have recently upgraded and remodeled our Butler, PA office. The renovated office will hold training sessions for Mastercam software; and, on occasion, may be used to hold various 3D printer seminars and other industry information sessions. The new office boasts 1800 square feet - including a training room, conference room, 3D printer showroom, and four office workstations. The training facility will be a huge asset to Cimquest’s Central and Western PA-based customers. Of the newly renovated office space, Training Manager, Shawn Spinneweber says, “We have seen a large growth in our training program over the past few years. Having this additional office space will be very useful…giving our local customers more options to attend Mastercam training in-person, or coming to the Butler office to remote into another class at one of our 4 other locations.” The 2 to 4-day classes are held several times each month. Plans are also in the works to house and show 3D printers. “3D printers are complementary to CNC machining and manufacturing. Today 3D printers have a short learning curve and allow you to solve many different issues that traditional methods can not. In addition, metal 3D printing is reaching the level of affordability and function to [...]