Metrology Minute – Traditional 2D Drawing inspection
In our last Metrology Minute post, we demonstrated how Control X can be used to extract feature size and location information directly from the scan, without the use of a nominal CAD model. With this route, a more traditional type of inspection could take place using just the scan of a manufactured part or assembly. We explained how a region’s model may be used to identify and measure analytic features, directly from a scan. And can place dimensions onto the 3D mesh model to then compare results from 2D print dimensions which is a fairly common and traditional method of performing part inspections. When the CAD model is present, however, Control X can also create 2D sections through a model and achieve the equivalent of a 2D drawing as well. As you see in the section view below, a plane is passed through the CAD model and aligned scan. The model is shown in solid, black font whereas the scan appears in dotted font. Finally, standard dimensions may be added to the 2D section, using the 2D dimensioning tools, comparing this metric crankshaft scan to its corresponding CAD model, but at a cross-section through the model. Please reach out to Joel Pollet with [...]
What NOT To Do With Your Brand New 3D Printer
a reprint from https://www.fabbaloo.com/news/seven-things-not-to-do-with-your-brand-new-3d-printer You just received a brand new desktop 3D printer. What should you NOT do? It’s that time of year when huge sales of inexpensive desktop 3D printers arrive in people’s homes, often for the very first time. Yes, it’s an exciting moment: you now have the power to build virtually anything, or at least you might think so. The truth is a little bit less dramatic, but 3D printers are indeed quite powerful. That excitement can lead to problems, and I’ve put together several tips based on experiences I’ve seen other novice 3D printer operators have unfortunately undergone. Rushing! Perhaps the worst thing to do is rush through the experience. There are many, many things to know, and it will literally take you weeks, if not months, to become a competent 3D printer operator. While things are exciting, it is risky to rush through the build, setup and initial prints because at this stage you more than likely don’t know what you’re doing and could actually damage the machine. Take it slow; there are weeks ahead for learning and rushing isn’t going to get you there any faster. Printing Too Big Pushing the build envelope [Source: Fabbaloo] One [...]
Wood 3D Printing Used in Our Ornament Design Challenge
There were many submissions to our Holiday Ornament challenge this year. The 1st and 2nd place winners were already announced a couple of weeks back. Another one of our favorites was the Christmas Star submitted by Forest Denton. We really liked his design for its geometric simplicity and also thought it would be a great example to have our friends at Desktop Metal 3D print it with a revolutionary process they are about to bring to the market called Forust. The Forust 3D Printer was created to make high-volume wood 3D printing affordable, reliable, and sustainable with two goals in mind: Produce strong and lightweight wood components where the speed, precision, and quality of binder jetting are applied. Build a sustainable future and achieve net-zero carbon emissions through additive rematerialization, where the materials used are derived from two wood waste streams (sawdust and lignin – a bio-epoxy resin composite). When we asked Forest what was the inspiration behind his design. He said his design came as a mixture of some of his favorite Christmas designs, mainly the geometric beauty of a snowflake and the iconic simplicity of a Christmas star. “This is actually the first (and almost certainly not the last) 3D modeling [...]
Mastercam System Requirements for the Best Performance
Error messages and lagging software are the last things any Mastercam programmer wants to be dealing with when creating new parts. Unfortunately, this is exactly what can happen if Mastercam's program system requirements are ignored. CAD/CAM hardware requirements are the set of hardware and software specifications a computer must meet in order for a program to run smoothly. This blog post will walk you through Mastercam’s System Requirements. 1. OS Requirements The operating system (OS) is the software that controls a computer’s most basic functions and provides the user with a graphical user interface (GUI) with which they can access files, folders, and programs. The OS determines how a user interacts with their computer and can only run software that it is compatible with. The minimum OS required to run Mastercam is Windows 10 64-bit Professional, although the recommended OS is Windows 10 64-bit Professional version 1903 or newer. To check which Windows OS you have, follow this guide. 2. Processor Requirements A computer’s processer is the electronic circuit that runs it. Processors perform commands and calculations according to instructions outputted by the OS. The minimum processors required for Mastercam software are 2.4 GHz or faster, either Intel or AMD. The recommended processors [...]
Save Money With a Tax Break
Most successful businesses take advantage of legal tax incentives to help lower their operating costs. Did you know that you can immediately deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment and/or software? Section 179 of the IRS tax code lets businesses do just that. Much of the equipment businesses purchased to conform to COVID-19 restrictions will qualify for the Section 179 tax Deduction. 2021 is The Best Year Ever for Section 179 The 2021 Section 179 deduction has been raised to $1,050,000 (that’s one million, fifty thousand dollars). This means your company can buy, finance, or lease new or used equipment, and write off the full purchase price on your 2021 taxes. This can result in substantial savings. To use Section 179 for 2021, the equipment must be purchased (or financed/leased) and put into service by midnight 12/31/2021. Curious how much you can save with Section 179 on your own purchase? View the 2021 Section 179 Tax Deduction Calculator via the link below to get an estimated lowered cost of equipment based on your tax bracket. This deduction is easy to receive and can greatly help your bottom line by lowering the amount you pay, all you need to do is buy (or [...]
CNC Machining for Aerospace
The aerospace industry encompasses not only all things aviation and flight, but also aircraft operations in space, and it services the private, commercial, and government defense sectors. In 2019 alone, the industry contributed over $900 billion to the U.S. economy and employed over 2 million people, according to the Aerospace Industries Association. In 2020, however, the industry took the biggest downturn in its history when COVID-19 impacted the global travel demand. Experts agree that aerospace manufacturing is once again on the upswing, but Deloitte reports that recovery will be uneven between commercial aerospace and defense; travel demands are not forecasted to return to normal until 2024, but most governments have not reduced their defense budgets and are still driving forces in the industry. For both sectors, though, some scheduling delays and minor cost increases are expected as a result of the instability of 2020 and early 2021. Luckily, aerospace manufacturers are eager to meet the demands of a recovering industry. What will set successful manufacturers apart from the rest will be their production approach. These companies will need to manufacture parts at top speeds to make up for the past year and a half of stymied production, maximize their profit margins by eliminating [...]