Combining Metal and Polymer for Better 3D Printed Tools
Applications prone to wear call for more durable tooling than 3D printed polymer alone, but full metal is not always necessary.
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Reducing Valve Cavitation with AM
Two different valve equipment manufacturers are finding success with 3D printed products designed to mitigate cavitation, in which vapor bubbles form and burst, potentially causing damage. Designs enabled by laser powder bed fusion counter this downstream effect.
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Video: 3D Printed Hand Tools in Action on Pella Corporation Factory Tour
Examples include an invention for quickly installing window and door weather stripping, a fitting for giving the proper angle to a nail gun, and a clip for which the color is an important feature.
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Video: AM for Product Development at Pella Corporation
Speed to market is a critical advantage 3D printing can enable. For its new product innovations, Pella iterates quickly using prototypes and tooling produced via AM.
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Medical Molder Relies on 3D Printing to Speed Development of Inspection Fixtures
Medical molder Medbio uses FFF and SLA 3D printers in designing (and sometimes producing) its inspection fixtures.
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The Cool Parts Show
AM Radio Podcast
- How 3D Printing Aids Automation, and How Additive Will Reach Farther With Robots: AM Radio #55
- From the Podcast Library: Qualification, Certification and Standards
- New Equipment, Additive Manufacturing for Casting Replacement and AM's Next Phase at IMTS 2024: AM Radio #54
- Spatter, Surrogate Modeling and More Advanced Manufacturing Research Happening at Carnegie Mellon University: AM Radio #53
- Additive Manufacturing at NASA (Part 2): AM Radio #52
- Additive Manufacturing at NASA (Part 1): AM Radio #51
- How Production Looks Different for 3D Printed Furniture Manufacturer Four Years Later: AM Radio #50
Featured
The Connector Conundrum: 3D Printed Mold Tooling’s Role in Innovation
ReelView Fishing faced an electronics obstacle in the development of its new technology for underwater video. Additive manufacturing for moldmaking allowed for the speed necessary to iterate to a solution. How inventors and invention will benefit from new ways of obtaining production-ready tooling.
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Hybrid Additive Manufacturing Improves Debarking Knife Tip Strength and Production Efficiency
Nicholson Manufacturing chose the Mastercam APlus specialized add-on to unlock hybrid manufacturing for making its debarker knife tips, enabling it to add durable layers to the wear surfaces of the tips to make them more resilient while also making the production process more efficient.
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6 Ways Additive Affects Machining
Machining is part of additive manufacturing, but the problems, pacing and possibilities of machining are all affected by their interaction with AM. Here are some of the ways machining changes when metal 3D printing is one of its drivers.
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Metal
Custom Molder Applies Polymer, Metal 3D Printing for Productivity Gains
Custom injection molder Westec Plastics Corp. uses 3D printed end-of-arm tooling for automation as well as inserts printed in metal.
Read MoreVideo: Hybrid Manufacturing Without Melting: Hermle’s Metal Powder Application (MPA) Process
The Metal Powder Application (MPA) process uses cold spray to apply metal to an existing workpiece. Because the material deforms rather than melts, MPA opens new possibilities for functional grading and other multimaterial applications.
WatchBeehive Industries Is Going Big on Small-Scale Engines Made Through Additive Manufacturing
Backed by decades of experience in both aviation and additive, the company is now laser-focused on a single goal: developing, proving and scaling production of engines providing 5,000 lbs of thrust or less.
Read MorePolymer
7 Takeaways on 3D Printing As a Pathway to Polymer’s Future
The Cleveland section of SPE hosted “Additive Manufacturing: Printing the Path for the Future” on October 17, 2024. Speakers signaled where AM is and where it is headed with session topics ranging from pellet-based 3D printing to qualification and commercialization of additively manufactured products.
Read MoreForerunner 3D Supports Automation with 3D Printed EOAT
The custom 3D printing company uses 3D printing in combination with other technologies to deliver end of arm tooling for part handling.
Read More3D Printed Polymer EOAT Increases Safety of Cobots
Contract manufacturer Anubis 3D applies polymer 3D printing processes to manufacture cobot tooling that is lightweight, smooth and safer for human interaction.
Read MoreComposite
3 Unique Elements of LFAM to Consider in Design
While similar to desktop fused filament fabrication (FFF), large format additive manufacturing (LFAM) in polymer composite poses several unique challenges as a result of its scale.
Read MoreCRP USA Creates Lighter, More Durable Paralympic Racing Gloves for Improved Performance
Paralympic champion with 20 medals, including eight golds and 24 World Major Marathon wins, looked to 3D printing service provider to create wheelchair racing gloves that can withstand the intense stress of wheelchair racing while providing the necessary precision and comfort.
Read MoreRobot Vs. Gantry for Large-Format Additive Manufacturing (Includes Video)
Additive Engineering Solutions, specialist at 3D printing very large parts and tools on gantry machines, now also uses a robot for large-format AM. Here is how the robot compares.
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Sustainability
Video: Construction 3D Printing with Robotics, Geopolymer
Alquist 3D is aiming to revolutionize construction and infrastructure with large-format robotic 3D printing using a carbon-neutral material.
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Robot Vs. Gantry for Large-Format Additive Manufacturing (Includes Video)
Additive Engineering Solutions, specialist at 3D printing very large parts and tools on gantry machines, now also uses a robot for large-format AM. Here is how the robot compares.
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Video: 5" Diameter Navy Artillery Rounds Made Through Robot Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Instead of Forging
Big Metal Additive conceives additive manufacturing production factory making hundreds of Navy projectile housings per day.
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