Modeling a Car Tire with Geomagic Freeform
In this post, we will walk through how to create a tire model with deep treads using Geomagic Freeform. We will do this by applying the basics of Sub D modeling to create a real-world part. Let’s start by creating a Taurus. Inside the editing tools, we can see that we have 61,440 faces on Level 5. We have two planes here - the XY and YZ plane. For the XY plane, we keep Symmetry on because anything we do on the front of the tire we want to cross over to the back. We can turn off YZ Symmetry but we also need to create Radial Symmetry. Radial Symmetry allows for any changes to the shape to be perpetuated all the way around the circumference of the tire. Using a haptic device, we select an edge and click Radial. From here we can take the Control Cage, and promote it to level 2 which quadruples the number of faces. This gives us the ability to create finer details on the tire. It also creates a centerline of edges to manipulate for modeling. The first thing we want to do is create a Zigzag pattern. We select two of these edges and then [...]
How to Export Data out of Control X
This blog post will explain how to export data out of Control X to be used for review or downstream applications. Control X Metrology software allows you to leverage rich data to understand why parts are in or out of tolerance. In working with a CAD model, known as the reference data, when you select the reference data node, a window appears in the bottom left that shows how the model will appear in the report. If you want to change the angle, you can rotate the part and simply click as shown below to update the orientation in the report. Now let’s move on to the Measure Data, which is the actual scan data. For Datums, there are three datums to fins, two flat faces of A and B, and datum C for the cylinder. Under Compare, there are multiple color maps including a standard one and then a Go-No Go color map, which simply shows what is inside tolerance and what is outside of tolerance. Below we have a whisker plot which is essentially a 2D color map. The black line is the exact geometry of the CAD model, and the colors are the cross-sections of the scan. Hovering over the [...]
Williams Racing Announces Partnership with Nexa3D
Williams Racing recently announced a new partnership with Nexa3D, bringing the fastest polymer 3D printing to the world of Formula One. Beginning this month, Nexa3D’s NXE400 ultrafast photoplastic 3D printer will be available to manufacture functional wind tunnel parts for aero testing purposes. The company’s NexaX software will enable high-performance additive manufacturing processes using modern computation architecture to develop light-weighted parts and accelerate the file-to-part process. With Nexa3D’s technology, Williams Racing will be able to quickly design and manufacture complex, light-weighted parts in minutes, compared to hours with traditional manufacturing, while minimizing material usage and waste. The NXE400 breaks printing speed barriers with its 20X productivity through its proprietary Lubricant Sublayer Photo-curing (LSPc) technology and patented structured light matrix capable of reaching top speeds of 1Z centimeter per minute. Al Peasland, Head of Technical and Innovation Partnerships at Williams Racing said, “We’re extremely excited to announce our partnership with Nexa3D and look forward to enhancing our additive manufacturing capabilities with their innovative high-speed printing technologies. Formula One is a challenging environment, that demands a continuous improvement philosophy in order to remain competitive. Our partnership will enable the team to continue to push boundaries in 3D printing, and present new opportunities for Nexa3D to [...]
HP and Ford Team Up to Convert 3D Waste Into Auto Parts
reprint from Digital Engineering Companies found way to extend life of already-used 3D printed powders and parts, turning them into auto components for Super Duty F-250 trucks, creating closed-loop on waste. Ford says 3D printing has potential to revolutionize customization of low-volume vehicle parts, accelerate sustainability. Image courtesy of HP and Ford. Ford is seeking to drive the future of automotive 3D printing, this time teaming up with HP to innovatively reuse spent 3D printed powders and parts, closing the loop and turning them into injection molded vehicle parts, the companies say. The resulting injection molded parts are better for the environment with no compromise in the durability and quality standards Ford and its customers demand, the company says. The recycled materials are being used to manufacture injection-molded fuel-line clips installed first on Super Duty F-250 trucks. The parts reportedly have better chemical and moisture resistance than conventional versions, are 7% lighter and cost 10% less. The Ford research team has identified 10 other fuel-line clips on existing vehicles that could benefit from this innovative use of material and are migrating it to future models. “Finding new ways to work with sustainable materials, reducing waste and leading the development of the [...]
Design for Additive Manufacturing: Internal Features and Channels
Additive manufacturing is rapidly rewriting the rules of how metal parts are made, and it’s doing it with the help of a new design language - Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM). Developed to take advantage of the enormous design freedom that comes with 3D printing, DfAM allows manufacturers to unlock a host of benefits - from highly complex geometry to the use of generative design tools to the ability to create internal features and channels - and create parts that would otherwise be too difficult or costly to justify with traditional manufacturing methods. Internal Features and Channels For some 3D printed parts, the greatest benefit isn’t on the outside, but the ability to create complex internal features. By building parts layer by layer, 3D printing opens new possibilities for engineers and designers to create parts with internal features - like conformal cooling channels - that would be impossible for conventional manufacturing approaches. Incorporating such features into parts can often result in improved performance like faster cooling rates for injection molds and improved heat transfer rates for heat exchangers, leading to production increases as well as reducing both the time and cost of creating parts. Part Examples Asthma Inhaler Mold Insert Asthma Inhaler [...]
3DGence Announces the INDUSTRY F350 3D Printer
3DGence announced a new industrial 3D printer for their INDUSTRY line, the F350. The 3DGence F350 production 3D printer Previously the company launched the F340 and F420. The new F350 seems to fit in-between the previous two models, as you might suspect. However, unlike most “mid models”, it isn’t just about a build volume that fits in-between. 3DGence has implemented an interesting combination of thermal capabilities as well. Each of the three INDUSTRY models uses the FFF process with 1.75mm filament. They all sport dual extrusion by means of swappable modules, which offer the ability to very quickly put in place hardware that’s optimized for specific materials. These modules can be interchangeably used on each of the machines. All machines in the INDUSTRY line include actively heated build chambers and hot ends that can hit a sizzling 500C. All machines include filament storage that’s also heated. With all those common characteristics, how do these machines differ, and how does the new F350 fit into the lineup? Let’s look at some specifics. The build volumes are the most prominent difference, but not the sole difference. The F340’s build volume is 260 × 300 × 340 mm; the F350’s build volume is a [...]