acleveland - Custom Tips for Rapid Prototyping

Browsing Posts published by acleveland

Complete Solutions From Prototype Through Production…

October 26, 2011 acleveland No comments

3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD) announced today that Quickparts^® supported Redfish Instruments through its design and development of a new and innovative iDVM digital Multimeter, controlled entirely through a downloaded mobile application.

Redfish Instruments’ (www.redfishinstruments.com) new iDVM device is the world’s first Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod-touch enabled digital multimeter, which wirelessly transmits voltage, current, and resistance measurements back to the user. Control of the iDVM is handled remotely by a free, downloadable application that resides on the mobile device. Redfish is currently the only company offering a multimeter iPhone app.

While designing the enclosure for the iDVM device itself, Redfish was able to benefit from the full range of solutions provided by Quickparts^®. After placing separate orders for SLA^® prototypes and pre-production cast urethane parts, Redfish selected Quickparts^® to produce its production tooling and deliver production quantities of injection molded parts.

“From the personal follow up on our prototypes through the design for manufacturability analysis we received, Quickparts^® was the logical, user-friendly choice to handle all of our requirements,” said Patrick O’Hara with Redfish. “We couldn’t have done it without the great teamwork we experienced with Quickparts^®.”

Click here to read the complete Redfish Instruments Case Study from Quickparts^®.

Uncategorized none

Top 5 Design Tips for Making Rapid Prototyping CAD Files

September 28, 2011 acleveland No comments

1. File Resolution:

STL format has become the standard for rapid prototype manufacturing. This format approximates the surface of a design using triangles. The resolution of the STL file plays an important role in the quality of the prototype produced. Due to the limitations of most prototyping processes the recommended facet resolution is 0.002“ to 0.005“. If you set the resolution much lower than this it can result in a part that is faceted or blocky. On the other hand, setting it any higher will dramatically increase the size of your file without increasing the quality of the prototype.

2. Angle Tolerance:

Angle tolerance sets the facet resolution for radii. 5 to 10 degrees is the recommended range. Going outside of this range will result in the same resolution issues described above. Smaller than 5 degrees results in a large file with no quality increase, and higher than 10 degrees can turn a round hole into a polygon.

3. Feature Size:

A feature is any prominent part or characteristic of a design that originates from the nominal wall. The recommended feature size is highly dependent on the prototyping process being used. The table below shows the minimum feature size for each process:

Process	Minimum Feature Size
SLA	Hi-Res – 0.010″ / Standard – 0.020″
SLS	0.035″
FDM	0.020″
PolyJet	0.010″

4. Wall Thickness:

Wall thickness is a crucial dimension to consider. The minimum wall thickness for each process follows the same guidelines as feature size. A design with walls thinner than the recommended measurement may not build at all, and if it does build, the resulting prototype will be very brittle and prone to warp or break.

5. Tolerance & Assembly Clearance:

Many parts are created as a component of an assembly of parts. Rapid Prototypes are ideal for validating the fit and function of assemblies; however, you must account for the tolerances of the specific prototyping process when considering the amount of clearance to add to the design. You can reference the Tolerance Calculator application in the Learning Center portion of our website to determine the tolerances you can expect for your project.

Uncategorized 3D printing, 3D Systems, FDM, Objet, PolyJet, PolyJet Technology, selective laser sintering, sla, SLS, stereolithography

:: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) – Larger Build Envelope Now Available!

September 14, 2011 acleveland No comments

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing process that is commonly used for rapid prototyping and production applications. Unlike many other prototyping processes, the build materials with FDM are actual production quality thermoplastics which are melted and finely extruded to create two-dimensional cross sections of the model. Each layer quickly solidifies and the next layer is extruded on top of the previous one, continuing until the model is complete.

FDM is an excellent choice for applications requiring strong, functional prototypes or end-use parts. There is a good variety of materials available in a range of convenient colors.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Quickparts has also recently begun offering parts built on the large Fortus 900mc machine, which has the largest build envelope and highest throughput of any FDM machine available. With a 36” x 24” x 36” build envelope, large FDM parts that would previously need to be built in sections, or large orders that would require multiple builds on different machines, can now often be built as a single piece or all at once on the same machine. This makes the entire process faster and more efficient.

FDM Highlights

• Ideal for Conceptual Models and Functional Testing Prototypes.
• Material choices include:
    – ABS
    – ABS-M30
    – Polycarbonate
    – PC-ABS
    – PC-ISO
    – ULTEM
    – PPSF
    – Food-grade ABSi material is
      available upon request.
• Layer Thickness: Standard Resolution:
0.01”; Minimum wall thickness is 0.02”.

• Finishing options include:
Smooth matte finish:
    – ABS (white, yellow, and gray)
    – ABS-M30 (natural and white)
   Smooth gloss finish:
    – ABS (white, yellow, and gray)
    – ABS-M30 (natural, white, black,
      dark gray and blue)
• Dimensional tolerances are: +/-
0.005″ for the first inch, and +/-
0.002″ for each additional inch. In
the z height (vertical), standard
tolerances of +/- 0.01″ for the first
inch, +/- 0.002” on every inch
thereafter.

Uncategorized 3D printing, 3D Systems, FDM, rapid prototyping, Stratasys

3D Rapid Prototyping Enables Innovation at General Motors

August 23, 2011 acleveland No comments

:: Skilled-trades technicians at the Warren 3-D Rapid Prototype Lab are finding new ways to produce test parts faster and at lower costs.

Three-dimensional rapid-prototyping technology has enabled technicians at General Motors to fabricate almost any part in a fraction of the time it once took.

Utilizing Selective Laser Sintering (SLS®) and Stereolithography (SLA®) 3D printers from 3D Systems, technicians at GM’s 3-D Rapid Prototype Lab can directly transfer digital designs for just about any part on a car or truck to one-off parts in hours without any dedicated tooling.

The rapid-prototyping machines produce parts to such precise tolerances that virtually no trimming or filling is required and the seams are almost invisible.

“Things that we do now within a day or two days, would take months to build by hand,” said Michael Marchwinski, a lab technician who began his career at GM Design 28 years ago as an apprentice wood model maker.

Uncategorized 3D CAD, 3D Models, 3D printing, 3D Systems, CAD, Objet, selective laser sintering, sla, SLS, Stereolith, STL, Stratasys

35 SLA Machines Manufacturing 40,000 Parts a Day!

July 26, 2011 acleveland 3 comments

Check out this impressive video that shows 35 SLA machines manufacturing 40,000 parts a day (8 to 10 million pieces per year)!

More sources are emerging for Additive Manufacturing (AM) cost-savings in the dental field. 3D Systems, Quickparts parent company, has expanded its product line and material offerings to compete strongly in this arena with its dedicated Top to Bottom Dental business. Their crown jewel (no pun intended) is the role their SLA machines play in creating the molds for Invisalign® removable orthodontic appliances.

Invisalign® manufactures a series of clear removable aligners that straighten out teeth. From an impression, a CT scan is used to create an extremely accurate 3D model. A treatment plan is designed using software and human input. The aligner models are made using 3D Systems’ Stereolithography (SLA) technology. From these models, a patient’s set of custom aligners are made. Using SLA allows Invisalign® to maintain great accuracy and reduce the amount of time it takes to create a model.

Toll Free: 877-521-8683 | Phone: 770-901-3200 | Fax: 770-901-3240 | www.quickparts.com

Uncategorized 3D Model, 3D printing, 3DSystems, additi, additive manufacturing, CAD, Invisalign, Quickpa, sla, SLS, stereolithography

Quickparts® Now Offering Accura® PEAK™

July 18, 2011 acleveland No comments

:: Quickparts Now Offering High-Temp, Rigid PC-Like SLA Material – Accura® PEAK™

Quickparts recently added the Accura® PEAK™ SLA material to the lengthy list of materials available for online, instant quoting at www.Quickparts.com.

Accura® PEAK™ SLA™ material is an advanced stereolithography resin that produces rigid and stable parts that perform well when exposed to high temperatures and moisture.

“Accura® PEAK™ resin is an excellent option for our customers looking for a rigid, high-temp material to use for rapid prototyping,” said Patrick Hunter, Vice President and General Manager for Quickparts. “Adding a high-temp choice like Accura® PEAK™ resin allows us to continue to offer the product development community the latest materials available.”

Click Here to read the full press release.

Toll Free: 877-521-8683 | Phone: 770-901-3200 | Fax: 770-901-3240 | www.quickparts.com

Uncategorized 3DSystems, Accura, Chuck Hull, PEAK, Quickparts, sla, stereolithography

Quickparts’ Brian Ford Featured on Medical Design Technology

July 13, 2011 acleveland No comments

Quickparts, one of North America’s largest providers of custom designed parts, ranging from rapid prototyping to plastic injection molding, was recently spotlighted in an informational video released by Medical Design Technology (MDT). MDT visited with Brian Ford of Quickparts at the Atlantic Design and Manufacturing show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. In the video, Ford discusses Quickparts’ patented instant online quoting engine that enables product developers to rapidly get a parts quote for their design.

View the full video here:

Uncategorized Medical Design Technology, Quickparts, rapid prototyping, www.quickparts.com

Page 2 of 2
Prev
1
2