How Does 3D Print Technology Affect Your Business?

November 12, 2009

For some,  3D printing has great interest. There is a fascination in developing a solid 3D component on the screen and then watching it get created in thin air.  For others,  it’s the fact that this “thing” did not exist 2 hours ago and now I have one in my hand.  How cool is that?  Technology has come a long way, so much that 3D printing has become incredibility popular.

For those of you that find this technology interesting or would like to know how it fits into our manufacturing process at Graphicast, please see my comment on the LinkedIn, CNC Machining / Manufacturing Network group.

Design Considerations

September 30, 2009

Casting Design Basics

As with all casting methods, uniform walls work best. Heavy sections must be at
the part perimeter to allow direct gating or must be connected to the perimeter with
heavy feeding ribs.

Milling operations can be eliminated through the use of flat surfaces parallel to
the parting plane. Drilled clearance holes or tap drill sizes are replaced with
cored holes.

The following guidelines should be considered:

• Sizes: Up to 12″ x 14″ x 5″Up to 20″ if narrow
• Radii parallel to parting line: 0.030″ minimumRadii normal to parting line: 0.063″ minimum
• Walls: Must be of uniform thickness from .125″ to .25″.
  Avoid heavy sections.
• Draft: 2° nominal on all surfaces perpendicular to parting plane
  (See Draft Requirements.)
• Gates/Risers: Allow for heavy gates (60% to 80% of prevailing thickness)
  on perimeter of part at parting line.
• Lettering: Raised lettering or artwork can be accommodated.
• Avoid:Applications over 300°F; multiple side pulls (slides)

Tolerances

• General Dimensions: First inch ± .005″; Additional inches ± .002″
• Critical Dimensions: First inch ± .003″;Additional inches ± .001″ per inch
• Across parting line: Add ± .005″ to above
• From side core: Add ± .005″ to above

Draft Requirements

To protect the graphite mold, adequate draft is required on all surfaces
perpendicular to the face (parting plane) of the mold. Normally, 2° of draft per
side is adequate, but thin sections may require 3° to 4°. On part drawings,
plus or minus draft should be specified for all dimensions affected by draft,
not indicated by angled lines.

“Plus” draft indicates that draft increases the size of the feature
described.

“Minus” draft indicates that draft decreases the size of the feature
(see drawing below).

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