Inside Oak Ridge’s 3D-Printed Machine Tool Moonshot
The widespread outsourcing of large machine castings led a collaborative team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to tackle the machine tool supply chain. The first step? 3D print the largest cast component.
Brent Donaldson
Senior Editor, Additive Manufacturing Media
AM 101: Hybrid Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing offers powerful capabilities alone, but even more opportunities are opened when AM is combined with subtractive processes.
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.
Additive Manufacturing for Hard Tooling
Hybrid manufacturing is enabling tooling to be made with additive processes.
Mold Builder Learns How to Use Hybrid AM to Build Conformal-Cooled Inserts
It is one thing to understand additive manufacturing technology, but it is another to know when to invest, who to partner with and how to sell its value.
Combining Additive and Subtractive Processes for Hybrid Manufacturing
At this point, we are still learning how to combine the two to optimize hybrid manufacturing.
A European View on AM: Rethinking Injection Molds
Overseas business models and applications of metal additive manufacturing promise to improve or invent functionalities integrated into molds and tools.
CGTech Extends Simulation to Thermwood LSAM (Includes Video)
Large-scale additive manufacturing platform is the largest 3D printer yet simulated. Watch video for example of how simulation using program G-code catches an error that would otherwise lead to a failed build.
Peter Zelinski
Editor-in-Chief, Additive Manufacturing
Metal 3D Printing in a Machine Shop? Ask the Marines
A hybrid system combining metal 3D printing with machining gives the Marine Corps perhaps its most effective resource yet for obtaining needed hardware in the field. It also offers an extreme version of the experience a machine shop might have in adding metal AM to its capabilities.
CGTech Machine Simulation Software Operates Independently
Rapid 2019: CGTech’s Vericut version 8.2 CNC machine simulation, verification and optimization software simulates CNC machining, additive and hybrid manufacturing processes.
Thermwood Hybrid Machine Produces Near-Net-Shape Parts
Rapid 2019: Thermwood’s Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) system uses both 3D printing and machining to produce a near-net-shape product.
Tahoe Boats Collaborates with Thermwood on 3D Printing for Boat Design
Thermwood assisted the building of Tahoe Boats’ T16 boat design, using its Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) system to custom print necessary tools and patterns. This is the first time 3D printing has been used on an actual boat production at this scale, according to the company.
Edgecam 2019 Includes Module for Additive Manufacturing
Edgecam 2019 R1 introduces an additive manufacturing module along with 30 other enhancements.
Matsuura Announces Partnership with CMD
Custom Mold and Design (CMD) and Matsuura USA will collaborate in applying Matsuura’s Lumex technology for the mold industry.
Interlayer Laser Peening Shows Promise for 3D Printed Implants and Beyond
Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln illustrates how applying secondary processes between 3D-printed layers can have a ripple effect on part properties. Dr. Michael Sealy explains the potential for medical implants using Optomec’s LENS platform.
Stephanie Hendrixson
Senior Editor, Additive Manufacturing
GW Plastics Bets on Metal 3D Printing for Conformal Cooling
An investment in a hybrid metal 3D printer is enabling moldmaker GW Plastics to produce better-performing molds with conformal cooling.
Optomec LENS Metal Hybrid Manufactures Dissolvable Medical Implants
The dissolvable metal implants could help eliminate the need for second surgeries, reducing risks, costs and suffering for patients.
DMP Factory 500 Integrates 3D Systems, GF Machining Solutions Expertise
The modular solution is optimized for scalability, repeatable high-quality parts, high throughput and low total cost of operation.
Optomec Introduces LENS 860 Hybrid Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Metal 3D Printer
The large-format metal 3D printer's hermetically sealed build chamber supports hybrid manufacturing with reactive materials.
3D-Hybrid Introduces ATC Solution for Hybrid Manufacturing
IMTS 2018: The Automatic Tool Change (ATC) Solution for hybrid manufacturing equips a machine tool with a high-deposition wire arc 3D printing head.
Okuma Engineer Offers Safety Tips for Hybrid Machine Tools
Shop air should be out of reach, but flood coolant is a friend, he says. The real challenge of hybrid machines right now is not safety procedures but software.
The Cool Parts Show, Episode 1: This Rocket Fuel Injector Is a Solid Part That Contains a Working Motor
Our new video series debuts with a look at a solid metal part made through additive manufacturing that was built with a motor embedded inside. The motor sealed within the part adjusts the rocket’s fuel mixture while the rocket is in flight.
Peter Zelinski
Editor-in-Chief, Additive Manufacturing
Takumi Machining Center Integrates 3D-Hybrid AM Tool
The addition of a wire-arc additive manufacturing tool integrates 3D printing into a double-column machining center.
Hermle Combines Metal Powder Application Process with Five-Axis Machining
Hermle integrated its MPA technology, a process where metal powder is applied by kinetic compacting to build completely sealed materials, in a Hermle five-axis machining center to create parts with highly complex inner geometries.
Diabase Brings a Machine Tool Perspective to FDM
The company’s H-series Additive and Hybrid systems take inspiration from machining centers to unlock the potential of filament-based 3D printing.
AM Conference: Should Your Manufacturing Technology Be Ambidextrous?
Dr. Jason Jones of Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies will present lessons learned from the application of "ambidextrous" additive and subtractive systems at the 2018 Additive Manufacturing Conference.
Autodesk Powermill 2019 CAM Software Supports Hybrid Manufacturing
Autodesk’s PowerMill 2019 CAM software includes developments that are designed to enhance existing functionality for high-efficiency machining and deposition.
At a Grand Opening, Sodick Reveals More Than New Machines
Along with launching a new line of hybrid machines, the world’s largest EDM manufacturer is tailoring one of its models specifically for postprocessing additive parts.