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Idea Hub

Why 3D Print

From the variety of materials to the ease of making design changes to the cost savings, there are many great reasons to 3D print. Learn about the benefits of 3D print technology.

Designing for Additive Manufacturing

Learn the principles and the nuances of 3D design.

Additive Manufacturing: A Solution for Part Obsolescence

Unplanned downtime due to aging equipment has plagued manufacturers, engineers, and fleet operators for years. Recent supply chain issues have exacerbated the problem. Thankfully, advances in additive manufacturing allow operators to 3D print replacement parts and get machines up and running quickly. Read about the benefits of engineering/reverse engineering parts with AM.

Lightweighting With Additive Manufacturing

Flexibility, cost, and weight savings are key elements for most manufacturers. Lightweighting comprises all the methods and practices to make industrial parts and products (like vehicles) weigh less while retaining – or even enhancing – their technical and mechanical functionality. From saving on materials to substituting lighter weight materials to eliminating parts through smarter design (ask us about the drill shoe!), additive manufacturing technology is benefitting organizations, users, and the environment. Link to the article.

Industrial Scale 3D Printing

The BMW Group has benefited from the advantages of AM. It offers fast availability of components, flexible component design, and the ability to manufacture parts without elaborate tools. “Processes such as additive manufacturing help us to speed up development cycles and get our vehicles to series maturity faster. 3D printing also shortens the production times of components while meeting rigorous quality requirements,” said Daniel Schäfer, SVP for Production Integration and Pilot Plant at the BMW Group. Read the article.

A framework for mapping design for additive manufacturing

Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) is a growing field. Over the past few years, the scientific community has begun to explore this topic to provide a basis for supporting professional design practice. However, current knowledge is still largely fragmented, difficult to access and inconsistent in language and presentation. This paper seeks to collate and organize this dispersed but growing body of knowledge, using a single and coherent conceptual framework.  >> Download PDF

Rapid prototyping _How HP Jet Fusion…

In the mad rush to get a new product to market, every hour counts, and as time passes, competition waxes while customers wane.

In recent years, technological advances have dramatically accelerated the traditional product manufacturing lifecycle. Innovations in advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and digitization are enabling companies to get new products to market faster than ever before.  >> Download PDF

Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) Molds with HP Multi Jet Fusion Technology

Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) technology is widely used in the manufacturing of low-volume, large plastic parts (machinery covers, medical devices covers, etc.) in a variety of formulations and densities, using polyurethane as the material.

The process involves the injection of two compounds – polyol and isocyanate – that react with each other to form polyurethane. Polyurethane-curing chemical reactions that occur inside a RIM mold normally take place at low temperatures and pressures, comparable with the conditions of plastic Injection Molding. These low-pressure and -temperature working parameters make HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) materials very suitable for RIM mold manufacturing.   >> Download PDF