AIM Centre of Excellence for 5-Axis Machining
Chris Leese-Wood, managing director at AIM Composites, said: “The majority of our projects for the AIM Altitude Group, as well as outside customers, require significant amounts of 5-axis machining. It is, therefore, important that we invest in an in-house capability. This will support our current production needs, along with the anticipated future increase in this element of our work. Typically, we run hundreds of one-off components each month to complete a single ship-set of parts. These small batch-sizes mean that fast setup and turnaround of components is critical.”
With the target to provide a “Centre of Excellence” for complex 5-axis trimming of components, AIM received a purposely-configured machine from Belotti. In addition, the UNITEAM 5-axis machine has been transferred from AIM Altitude’s Cabin Interiors division.
“The two machines offer significant capabilities to both our internal and external composites customers,” said Leese-Wood.
The investment includes associated equipment and software to support the new processes. The machine has also been configured with MSP probing, to enable in-process probing and validation.
For more information, visit the websites for AIM Altitude and Belotti.
Proto Labs Expands Additive Manufacturing with Concept Laser
Proto Labs will integrate multiple Mlab cusing and M2 cusing machines into its new 77,000 sq. ft. facility later this year. The LaserCUSING technology is intended to complement its existing portfolio of industrial 3D printing, CNC machining and injection molding processes.
“Our business is built on a foundation of speed, efficiency, and delivering a superior quality of parts. Concept Laser metal powder-bed systems provide us with the ability to deliver on that promise to our customers,” said Rob Connelly, Proto Labs' vice president of additive manufacturing. “The Mlab cusing and M2 cusing machines from Concept Laser enable us to manufacture with a variety of reactive and non-reactive metal powders in various build volumes.”
“Maximum throughput without compromise to quality is one of the competitive advantages our machines offer. The integration of safety features, such as the closed-loop material handling system along with the patented passivated filter-change mechanism, minimizes the operator’s exposure to powders and streamlines the process,” said John Murray, president and CEO of Concept Laser Inc.
LaserCUSING systems can use a variety of alloys, allowing prototypes to be functional hardware made out of the same material as production components. Since the components are built layer by layer, it is possible to design internal features and passages that could not be cast or otherwise machined.
Mlab cusing and M2 cusing machines produce full-strength, functional metal parts with the potential to transition into metal injection molding when increased production is needed.
For more information, visit the websites for Proto Labs and Concept Laser.
Sciaky to Deliver Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing System to EWI
EWI is an engineering and technology organization in North America dedicated to developing, testing and implementing advanced manufacturing technologies for industry.
Sciaky and EWI will work together to produce prototype parts for manufacturers in a variety of industries across the U.S. Both companies plan to co-market their metal 3D printing capabilities to the marketplace.
"Sciaky is very excited to work with an innovator like EWI," said Mike Riesen, General Manager of Sciaky, Inc. "Beyond simply selling an EBAM system to EWI, Sciaky will collaborate with EWI to advance and promote EBAM technology into mutual fields of interest. New applications and solutions will surely be discovered under this exciting partnership."
Sciaky's EBAM systems can produce parts ranging from 203 mm (8”) to 5.79 m (19’) in length, but can also manufacture smaller and larger parts, depending on the application. The system has gross deposition rates ranging from 3.18 to 9.07 kg (7 to 20 lbs.) of metal per hour.
In addition, a dual wirefeed option enables two different metal alloys to be combined into a single melt pool to create "custom alloy" parts or ingots. The mixture ratio of the two materials can also be changed to create "graded" parts or structures.
For more information, visit the websites for Sciaky and EWI.
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