August 2010 eNews
Company demonstrates expanding role of additive
manufacturing during AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems North America
Show 2010
From
engine shrouds—
Unique, complex aircraft components, many of them
impossible to create using traditional manufacturing
processes, will be on display at EOS booth #3407 at the
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
(AUVSI) Unmanned Systems North America exhibition (August
24-27, Denver, Co.). Udo Behrendt, Key Account Manager
Aerospace at EOS, the world-leading manufacturer of
laser-sintering systems, will be providing technical
background about aerospace applications during the show.
—to
leading edges in wings—
EOS customer Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems (NWUAV) is
exhibiting a FORMIGA P 100 plastic laser-sintering system
from EOS, as well as a complete unmanned vehicle, at booth
#1214. Northwest Rapid Manufacturing, part of the Northwest
UAV family of companies, manufactures production parts and
prototypes for NWUAV using its EOSINT P 390 and P 730
equipment. Together, the companies provide parts and
assemblies including engine and cooling components for
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) made by Insitu, Inc., and
others. These components are stable in hot environments and
are tough, pliable, and robust in harsh conditions such as
exposure to fuel.
—to
control vanes—
“Manufacturers of UAVs face stringent demands, both for
part requirements and delivery schedules,” says Alexander
Dick, VP of Laser-Sintering Operations at Northwest Rapid.
“EOS laser-sintering equipment enables us to meet tight
tolerances, ensure component strength and performance, and
deliver parts on or before deadlines.” Northwest UAV is an
active member of the AUVSI Cascade Chapter, serving as a
sponsor and providing two chapter officers in 2010.
—to
prototype titanium parts, laser-sintering is leaving
its mark on UAVs.
“The huge growth of the unmanned-systems market has
triggered a wave of innovative and unique designs,” says
EOS’ Behrendt. “Our customers are using metal and plastics
laser-sintering to push the boundaries of those designs.”
Other EOS customers at the show are Paramount PDS (Booth
#1618), who will exhibit plastic UAV parts created with an
EOSINT P 730; Morris Technologies, Inc., (Booth #2729), who
will display titanium aerospace components and prototypes
created with direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS); and Solid
Concepts (Booth #1226), who is featuring SLS-manufactured
flight structures for Aerotonomy’s new Cruise-Efficient
ESTOL research aircraft. In addition to the aircraft’s
form-fitted seven-gallon fuel tank, all of the primary
structures that enable the advanced high-lift technologies
such as leading-edge blowing, circulation-control flaps, and
airflow plenums were manufactured with EOS laser-sintering
equipment. Solid Concepts manufactures plastic
laser-sintered aerospace parts from a wide range of
applications and materials.
Shown
is a laser-sintered polystyrene pattern used to make
an aluminum casting for part of a three-blade,
variable pitch propeller hub and blade assembly
(Courtesy Northwest UAV)
Plastic and metal laser-sintering are already widespread
in UAV and other aerospace applications. In addition to
producing durable, lightweight and complex parts, the
technology requires no tooling, thereby reducing upfront
times and costs and making re-designs and customization easy
and affordable.
“On any given UAV system, once its customer and field use
changes, the only features that stay the same may be the
frame and most of the fuselage,” says Frederick Claus,
Business Development Manager at Solid Concepts. “The
manufacturing flexibility and speed of laser-sintering have
proved their worth in this industry time and again.”
Trailing
edge structure and flap of UAV wing, manufactured
with plastics laser-sintering (Courtesy Solid
Concepts)
Among the materials currently available for
laser-sintering of UAV components are:
- Several polyamides (including a flame-retardant
material)
- EOS PEEK HP3 (a high-temperature thermoplastic polymer)
- Titanium
- Cobalt chrome
- IN718 (a nickel-chromium super alloy)
Additional materials for UAV and other aerospace
applications are in development.
Want more information? Click below.
EOS
Techno, Inc. Linear Motion Systems announces their FREE
LabVIEW drivers on their Web site, compatible with a variety
of Techno controllers and machines. The FREE drivers allow
direct control through LabVIEW of the Techno motion
controller for pick and place, dispensing, assembly,
testing, drilling, routing, welding, inspection and general
automation.
“Users of LabVIEW can now easily interface many of our
Techno controllers and machines to their projects,
drastically reducing programming time,” Joe Griffin, Techno
Linear Motion Sales Manager says. “The drivers are
compatible with the IT116FL, C142 and iMC-P1 stepper
controllers as well as the newer iMC-V servo controllers.
Certain legacy controllers can be used as well; those
include the C10, C116 and the IT116G stepper controllers.
Techno’s DaVinci, ICP and TechnoMod xyz gantry machines can
also be driven using the virtual instruments (VI’s)
provided.”
Motion of all axes can be controlled as well as reading
inputs and turning outputs on and off. Customers can
download the FREE LabVIEW drivers through the Techno Linear
Motion Systems Web site:
http://www.technoautomation.com, and view a list of
compatible controllers, slides and machines.
For more information on the FREE LabVIEW drivers,
including screen captures, photos and specifications, visit:
http://www.techno-isel.com/tic/Catdas/LabView.htm or
call to speak with an Application Engineer at 1-800-819-3366
Want more information? Click below.
Techno, Inc.
Mazak
Corporation names Sandvik Coromant USA first member
of new VIP program. Brian Papke, president of Mazak
Corporation (center right) and John Israelsson,
president of Sandvik Coromant USA (center left) are
pictured with members of their management teams
after announcement.
Mazak has announced the launch of Value Inspired Partners
(VIP), a new technology partnership program, which is
designed to further support customers and provide them with
total manufacturing solutions. Stemming from a constant
commitment to American manufacturers, this new program
represents an increased level of partnership with companies
that manufacture equipment, software and accessories. To be
VIP certified, companies must provide products and services
that transcend traditional supplier relationships and
regularly meet a set of qualification criteria.
Criteria for VIP certification include the minimum of the
following:
- Be a recognized leader with unique, innovative and high
quality products
- Provide extensive pre- and post-sales support
- Add value to customer processes and provide system
solutions
- Maintain a culture of ethical business standards and
practices
“Over the last decade, the rate of technological
innovation has increased substantially across all types of
manufacturing equipment and software,” says Brian Papke,
president of Mazak Corporation. “To provide the best
possible solutions to end users, manufacturers in any
specific product category cannot operate in a vacuum. By
establishing productive partnerships with producers of
complementary technologies, we offer customers a more
diverse array of technical expertise and achieve development
of truly optimized solutions.”
Sandvik Coromant has been certified as the first member
of the Mazak VIP program, and the selection process is
ongoing for several other potential members.
“We are pleased to be the first member of the VIP
initiative,” said John Israelsson, president of Sandvik
Coromant USA. “We will work with this new program to bring
our customers a complete machining solution to the shop
floor.”
Companies that qualify for the VIP program will work
closely with Mazak, both in product development and in
creating value-added training events and seminars for
American manufacturers. VIP Members will also benefit from
cooperative marketing efforts when appropriate.
For more information on the new Mazak VIP program, please
visit MazakUSA.com/VIP.
Want more information? Click below.
Mazak
Corporation
See how laser marking is being implemented in the automotive, plastics and medical industries.
You too can adopt laser marking.
This must-read presents numerous examples of applications that you may have never imagined using a laser to do.
Click here to read more
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