Page 10 - 3D Metal Printing Spring 2017

3D TECH UPDATE
Startup’s System for Cleaning 3D-Printed Items
3D printing has a dirty little secret: It can be very tedious to clean away the support structures and extra material once an item is printed. And, getting the part smooth and polished is another hurdle. It’s a challenge that could be holding back the large-scale adoption of 3D printing among manufacturers.
However, a Buffalo, NY-based company, PostProcess Technologies, has developed automat- ed systems for cleaning off 3D-printed parts. The process takes complex parts (metal or plastic) and polishes them to gleaming luster, including interior spaces. Machines also remove support structures that most parts require in order to be printed.
The company’s process has three integrated elements: software, hardware and consumables
CNC Machine-Simulation Software Update Includes AM Capabilities
The latest version of CGTech’s CNC machine- simulation software, Vericut V8.1, features addi- tive-manufacturing (AM) simulation capability. With more manufacturers adopting AM into their daily operations, say company officials, the timeliness of adding this new capability is criti- cal. Vericut V8.1 simulates the same NC code for AM that will drive the CNC machine, enabling companies to virtually experiment with combining additive and traditional subtractive metal-removal processes, to determine optimal, safe hybrid production methods.
(detergents, and abrasive and polishing media). The motion of fluids within the machines is controlled by a software algorithm that uses sensor data to adjust the process in real time to pre- vent parts from being forced into a corner of the tank. And, energy input is tightly controlled and monitored to prevent part damage.
Detergents used in the cleaning process are specifi- cally formulated for 3D-print- ed materials and can remove supports from most materi- als. Detergent use can be tuned using nanosecond switching times to attack less-dense forms of a materi- al—such as a metal support structure—without affecting the final printed part. PostProcess Technologies: www.postprocess.com
“This gives our customers a competitive edge to create, customize and/or repair products,” says Gene Granata, Vericut product manager, “and in the process, redefine current production technology.”
Other new software enhancements promise to increase the ability of manufacturing engineers to analyze, optimize and docu- ment the CNC programming and machining process. Intelligence gathered from the cut part and the machining process will help shops achieve a higher level of accuracy and efficiency.
CGTech: www.cgtech.com
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