Articles
Additive Manufacturing at NASA (Part 1): AM Radio #51
In this first episode of a two-part special on additive manufacturing at NASA, we discuss three specific 3D printed parts for upcoming missions and share observations about the organization’s approach to AM.
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Savage Automation Delivers 3D Printed Commercial Manufacturing Aids
The company's approach to designing end-of-arm tooling and other devices has evolved over the years to support longevity and repairs.
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3MF File Format for Additive Manufacturing: More Than Geometry
The file format offers a less data-intensive way of recording part geometry, as well as details about build preparation, material, process and more.
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Video: How Multimaterial Laser Powder Bed Fusion Works
Penn State University’s CIMP-3D is exploring applications of the Schaeffler Aerosint system for multimaterial 3D printing. During a recent visit, I got an introduction to this system.
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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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Machine Tool Drawbar Made With Additive Manufacturing Saves DMG MORI 90% Lead Time and 67% CO2 Emission
A new production process for the multimetal drawbar replaces an outsourced plating step with directed energy deposition, performing this DED along with roughing, finishing and grinding on a single machine.
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Is Automation More Effective Than Size for Serial Production 3D Printing?
Micro Factory has developed an mSLA system that incorporates cleaning, curing and part ejection, not to mention 100 empty build plates, into the frame of a desktop machine. The result is a small unit for large-scale production.
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3D Printed Titanium Replaces Aluminum for Unmanned Aircraft Wing Splice: The Cool Parts Show #72
Rapid Plasma Deposition produces the near-net-shape preform for a newly designed wing splice for remotely piloted aircraft from General Atomics. The Cool Parts Show visits Norsk Titanium, where this part is made.
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Titanium Cheaper Than Aluminum? The Cool Parts Show All Access
General Atomics’ Steve Fournier describes how directed energy deposition makes titanium economical for aircraft structural components.
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BMW Expands Use of Additive Manufacturing to Foster Production Innovations
The BMW Group is manufacturing many work aids and tools for its own production system using various 3D printing processes, with items such as tailor-made orthoses for employees, teaching and production aids, and large, weight-optimized robot grippers, which are used for such things as carbon fiber-reinforced polymer roofs and entire floor assemblies.
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Q&A With Align EVP: Why the Invisalign Manufacturer Acquired Cubicure, and the Future of Personalized Orthodontics
Align Technology produces nearly 1 million unique aligner parts per day. Its acquisition of technology supplier Cubicure in January supports demand for 3D printed tooling and direct printed orthodontic devices at mass scale.
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Will the Successes of NASA’s RAMFIRE Project Lead to an Operational Aerospike Engine?
NASA’s RAMFIRE project has additively manufactured a 36-inch diameter aerospike nozzle with complex integral coolant channels for a more efficient way to propel rockets to outer space. NASA engineers will use this as a proof of concept to inform future component designs.
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