Video: Support Structures Are Misnamed! How to Understand Anchors in Additive Manufacturing
Supports or anchors can account for a significant share of both the engineering investment and material use in metal additive manufacturing. Michael Hansen of SLM Solutions discusses the role and importance of support structures.
August 14, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Video: Metal AM Affects Plastics Production via Conformal Cooling
Additive manufacturing allows cooling channels within mold tooling inserts to follow the form of the tool rather than being straight drilled holes. Here’s why this matters.
August 9, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Video: The Impact of Part Orientation on Cost and Build Time in AM
A different build orientation might mean fewer layers and less support structure, though the part might need to be redesigned to take advantage of this different orientation.
August 7, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Video: How Simulation Assists Directed Energy Deposition
Scrapping an AM part is potentially as costly as scrapping a machined part. Directed energy deposition is an additive process that can benefit from a resource that safeguards machining: simulation software.
August 2, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Video: What is Directed Energy Deposition?
DED is an additive manufacturing process that builds features or parts in metal by placing material where needed.
July 29, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Video: Survey of AM Users Finds Machine Shops Employing 3D Printing for Plastic Part Production
Additive manufacturing provides an option for low-quantity production in polymer. One implication is that machine shops are liable to be less strictly metalworking businesses.
July 18, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Video: Periscope Case Shows 3D Printing for Niche Manufacturing
Manufacturing without mold tooling allows the production quantity to be tailored to the market size.
June 24, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Cool Stuff We Discovered at Rapid + TCT 2019 (See Our Video Collection)
AI for process improvement, 3D printing with metal paste, droids for build change—here are six innovations we wanted to share with you straight from the show floor.
May 31, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Video: 3D-Printed Brackets Are Key to Automated Coolant Delivery for Lights-Out Machining
An on-site look at the different elements of the coolant-delivery system developed by a machine shop committed to running unattended.
May 10, 2019 - Peter Zelinski
Video: In Conventional Manufacturing, 3D Printing Is a Solution for Tooling
Tooling for conventional operations doesn't have to made conventionally. Rather than being made through machining, these welding fixtures are now made via 3D printing.
May 3, 2019 - Peter Zelinski