Industry

The market features a wide range of 3D printer manufacturers. JGMakers is one of the leading manufacturers in this category. The company is known for manufacturing a wide range of 3D printers, printing materials, and accessories. Click here to read more about JG Makers and what they have to offer. This post looks into 3D printed product qualities and elements that impact them.

Factors affecting the quality of 3D printed parts

3D printed parts are known for their high quality. 3D printed parts are usually highly precise, strong, highly durable, and come in varying shapes and complexities. However, the quality can be affected by the following elements:

1. Printing material

The material used in 3D printing is known as filament. The market features a wide range of filament types. The filament can be made from various types of plastic, metal, and sand. Each type of filament features different qualities, advantages, and shortcomings. Naturally, the higher the quality of the filament, the higher the quality of the printed products. For instance, products made from strong printing materials turn out highly solid and durable. On the other hand, products made from inferior printing materials or filaments tend to feature inferior quality. For this reason, one of the primary factors that affect the quality of 3D printed products is the printing material.

2. Type of 3D printer

The market features a wide range of 3D printer types. Some of the most popular ones are FDM, SLA, SLS, and SLM 3D printers. Each of these printers uses varying 3D printing technologies. They all work differently, and they have their shortcomings and advantages. Some types of 3D printers produce better quality 3D printed products than the rest. This is because of how the 3D printers work, their components, and the type of printing materials they accept. Simple elements like the thickness of the layers extruded by the printer can influence the quality of the surface. Therefore, the type of printer used for the printing process will significantly influence the quality of the 3D printed products.

3. The quality of the CAD model

The CAD model is also known as the blueprint. It is usually created in the first step of 3D printing then translated and fed to the printer. The CAD model is made from the original product design made by the creator, inventors, or manufacturer. Note that the entire 3D printing process is usually automatic. This means that it does not require human input. The only part of the process is that requires some human input is making the CAD model. However, a type of software is also applied. Therefore, if there are any issues with the CAD model, they will show in the final product. This is why the CAD model will affect the quality of the 3D printed product.

Conclusion

In addition to the features above, the way the 3D printing process is conducted will affect the quality of the products. This is the reason why companies hire 3D printing companies to take care of their manufacturing needs. Regardless, 3D printed parts are very reputable because of their quality. They are strong and can last for a long time.

The medical industry is among the sectors that use the prototyped parts in its operations. The technology has advanced tremendously such that parts such as pacemakers can be developed. The growth in the medical industry has reduced the chances of death significantly. Also, parts such as hip replacements protect patients from using wheelchairs all their lives. Companies in the prototype manufacturing industry have been a lifesaver for most. Prototyping is found in many countries like prototyping china. This post aims at updating you on the Application of the prototyping process in the medical industry.

Examples of prototyped medical parts

• X-ray equipment
• MRI devices
• Ultrasonic equipment
• Medical monitor devices

Application of the prototyping process in the medical industry

There are four critical steps in developing medical devices

1. Alpha prototypes

The first step in developing medical devices prototypes is the Alpha prototypes. At this step, the manufacturer utilizes a 3D printer to check out the medical prototype dimension. There is no actual production at this step. Therefore, you get to save time and money on the purchase of material and production services. The 3D printed medical prototypes are used to check whether every angle is done correctly and how it will appear once production commences. The 3D-printed medical prototypes at this step are non-functional.

2. Beta prototypes

The second step involves the beta prototypes. The manufacturing method used at this stage is more refined. The main goal of this step is to check out whether there are any issues with the manufacturing processes and the design’s functionality. Compared to the alpha prototypes, the medical device prototype is functional at this stage, although its exterior design may not be the same as the expected output. Also, the prototypes used at this step can be used to seek out investors.

3. Pilot prototypes

The third step in the medical prototype developing process is the pilot prototype. The pilot prototype design is almost identical to the previous step, but it looks more like the final output. The medical prototypes manufactured at this step are mainly used for clinical trials and device launches. The prototype manufactured follows the precise material and design specifications.

4. Final product

The last step involves the production of the final product. This step ensures that the design is fully functional. In addition, it incorporates the previous steps and any modifications made to the design. This final step produces the final medical prototyped device.

Machining methods used to produce the medical prototyped device

• Vacuum Casting: This technique is best suitable for flexible and rigid parts. This method is very affordable, and it ensures that the surface finishing is very smooth.
• Aluminum machining: This technique allows manufacturing companies to develop products and prototypes of very high quality.
• Clear acrylic polishing and machining: This technique is used for products such as lenses. It ensures that the parts are created with high levels of precision and quality.
• CNC machining: This technique allows for the production of medical devices that requires a tight tolerance.

Conclusion

The medical industry cannot function as properly without the prototype development processes. Some of the equipment, such as the MRI equipment, is essential for running tests. The existence of prototyping allows for services in the medical field that would not have otherwise existed.

The industry of CNC machining China is broad. There is a wide range of companies in China providing a wide range of CNC machining services. A lot of companies outsource their CNC machining services to China because of the affordability of the services. Chinese CNC machining companies are also highly experienced. They have worked with hundreds of companies, hence have acquired a lot of experience in this sector. Therefore, you can trust these companies to provide the best services and use top-notch equipment. In this writeup, we discuss CNC machined parts. 

Types of CNC machined parts

CNC machining can be applied in a wide range of parts. Below are some popular CNC machined parts:

1. Complex surface parts

CNC machining is used to manufacture complex surface parts in the aviation, design, and transportation industry. Here, parts like cam, integral impeller of aviation, propeller, and die cavity. These parts consist of complex curves and curvy surface outlines. These elements cannot be achieved using ordinary manufacturing techniques. For this reason, CNC machining is applied. CNC machining offers a high level of processing accuracy. This is done using precision casting. The use of multi-axis CNC machining machines also helps with precision and manufacturing accuracy.

Additionally, the automatic programming technology used in CNC machining helps significantly improve the production efficiency and complexity of complex surface parts.

2. Special-shaped parts

The term “special-shaped parts” refers to parts with irregular shapes. These parts require multiple stations and mixed processing points. They also feature mixed processing lines and surfaces. Examples of such materials are brackets, base, and die relief. When manufacturing materials with unique shapes, higher precision is required. This is where CNC machining comes in. In CNC machining, technology and multiple axes are used to ensure higher accuracy. Several other types of manufacturing techniques cannot achieve this level of accuracy.

3. Parts with complex structures

Various industries like the robotic, automobile, and aircraft, to name a few, is where parts with complex structures are applied. These are parts with higher degree requirements, large size, and intricacies. Most manufacturing techniques would take a lot of time and effort to achieve the complexity of these structures.

However, in CNC machining, more than 70 percent of the manufacturing process for complex structures can be completed by a single clamp. However, this highly depends on the type of CNC machining service applied. CNC machining services with high processing efficiency, proper stiffness, and automatic tool changing capabilities are always a better option for making parts with complex structures.

4. Prototype parts

Prototypes are draft parts used in the trial production phase for new products. CNC machining is used for making prototypes because it is a fast technique. CNC machining techniques can be applied in rapid prototyping. In CNC machining, when the CAD models are designed, the details are stored in the software. This makes it easy to make changes to the design after the trial phase and produce another prototype, as is the case in rapid prototyping.

Conclusion

CNC machining is highly applicable in a wide range of industries. Whether it is complex structured, large, or intricate parts, you can count on CNC machining producing high-quality outcomes.

CNC machining involves the cutting technology where materials are removed from an object. It is a subtractive process commonly used for low volume and rapid prototype manufacturing. Computer Numerical Control or CNC means that computers control the different machining parts and cutting tools during manufacturing. In this extract, we look at types of CNC machines.

Types of Machines Used in CNC Machining

Machining is important in many applications. The manufacturing industries use a variety of machines, each serving a different purpose for product production. Some common CNC machines are;

1. CNC Milling Machines

These types of machines are the most popular in the manufacturing setup. CNC milling is, therefore, a common operation that relies on cutting tools that rotate around a workpiece to create a specific shape. The milling machines use computers to facilitate this process. This works because the computers are fed with numerical codes that pass instructions to the simple mills on how to proceed with the machining.

2. CNC Router Machine

This CNC machine is so called the router machine due to the routers found on it. The router machine is prevalent in the market due to its ease of use. Operating it is a straightforward thing hence anyone can run it efficiently, be it a first-time operator or a regular user. This element sets apart these machines from the rest since it is specifically designed to carry out CNC operations, and human involvement is limited.

The CNC router machine has several characteristics that make it possible to use in various applications. It has an in-built design that produces larger dimensions of objects than other machines. These features enable it to cut materials like wood and sheet metal into the desired shapes. In addition, the CNC machine has a rotary located on the workpiece and routers positioned in three axes, i.e., the X, Y, and Z axes. This means it is designed for machining flat parts, but some manufacturers use it on 3D objects.

3. CNC Plasma Cutter Machines

These types of CNC machines are mostly used in heavy-duty applications to cut heavy materials. Several materials are used in the manufacturing process, like metals, and the most common is steel. The machines work by cutting the material on a workpiece or object using a plasma torch.

4. CNC Lathes Machines

Generally, manufacturers use lathes to create conical and precise parts. The lathe machine is primarily used to turn centers or cut off excess material during the cutting process. Like the CNC router machine, it is easy to operate, fast and accurate. It comes in different forms based on varying qualities and is used in many industrial applications.

5. CNC Electric Discharge Machines

EDMs are used to produce shapes from a workpiece. The machine employs electrical release in parts production where the material is cut from the object. During the process, two existing anodes are separated by a dielectric liquid. One disadvantage of this machine is using it isn’t easy compared to others hence they are not very popular.

Conclusion

The examples above are the main CNC machines available in the market. They are all essential in the manufacturing industry but have different characteristics that make them different, like the materials they use, the parts they manufacture, and how they work.

Marketing and selling finished products require some finesse and skill. However, one of the very obvious facts every producer and marketer knows, is that lack of good packaging can significantly reduce attraction and customers’ inclination to buy a product.

Thanks to technology, with the use of an automatic packaging machine, it is possible for every manufacturer to have beautiful packaging. An automatic packaging machine increases speed in the final stage of production and enhances the aesthetics of your product. Read on to find out further advantages of purchasing an automatic packaging machine.

Benefits of Automatic Packaging Machine

There are numerous benefits of packaging

1. Increases volume of sales

With good packaging, the consumer is easily attracted to the finishing. It is this attraction that causes them to inquire about the content. Good packaging makes it easier to close sales and hit sales targets.

2. Authenticity

Good packaging increases the authenticity of your product. Many people have the notion that if it is packaged properly, it is most likely a quality product. While this is not always true, it is often true. So, packaging your goods properly will buy the trust of consumers easily.

3. Smart Investment

An automatic packaging machine is a smart investment for your business because it is a one-time purchase. Like all machines, what it needs is routine maintenance and a clear understanding of how to operate it.

With an investment like this and proper maintenance, all that will be needed are operating managers and this machine can be used infinitely as long as maintenance is religiously adhered to.

4. Branding

The goal of product manufacturing is not only to have consumers but to have constant consumers. Using good packaging by using an automatic packaging machine will ensure that your product has a signature look. This will make it easy to retain consumers.

5. Reduces cost of production

An automatic packaging machine cuts back on manual labor which is a good thing for the businessman. It gets the packaging job done more efficiently and speedily and removes the element of fatigue because a machine is not human.

This means that you can easily set time frames for production and be sure that it will not be delayed by tired hands, unforeseen ailments, and the many other complications that can arise with human resources.

6. Prolongs Product Life Span

This is highly dependent on the type of product you sell. For food products and other products that require preservation, inadequate packaging can lead to a short life span of that goods.

The danger with this is, the goods may not go bad while in your care, but they can go bad just before the final consumer gets it. It can cause ailment which can lead to lawsuits for your company, loss of income, and loss of consumer trust. But all these can be avoided with the right equipment, which is an automatic packaging machine.

7. Protection

The process of goods transportation is often rough and hardly gentle. With good packaging, your product will be protected from damage and you can be assured that no matter the time frame the logistics demands, your goods will get to the final consumer, it will be gotten in a good, working condition.

Conclusion

Having an automatic packaging machine is a good investment for your business. All you need to do is to decide on the type of packaging you want and purchase one that suits your product.

Surface finishing is a term used to describe the different types of manufacturing that work to improve the overall beauty and appearance, strength, and a host of other properties that make a finished product. One of these manufacturing processes is prototype manufacturing. They add, alter, remove, and reshape the material of a given product, and they are often achieved through the application of mechanics, chemicals, and electrics.

In all, sanding and polishing are part of the most popular ways to achieve a clean surface finish. Do you want to find out more about surface finishing, and all there is to it? Then keep scrolling:

Processes of Surface Finishing

While there are lots of processes used for surface finishing, here are the most common ones in the industry:

1. Sanding

This is easily considered the most popular process of surface finishing. It’s the process of getting rid of the surface material using a disk or an abrasive sheet. It’s recommended that you use the fovitic sanding method. That’s because it enables you to get past some general problems associated with sanding.

2. Polishing

Similar to sanding, polishing uses a finer means of abrasion to finish a surface. However, if you’re using robots to polish, you may encounter different factors that can affect its quality. These factors include; wear rate, connection to robot, the strategy used, etc.

3. Sand Blasting

Sandblasting is achieved by driving the abrasive beads onto the desired surface. This helps to rapidly remove the material.

4. Electro polishing

This is a surface polishing process that involves the use of chemicals instead of mechanical procedures to polish. Electro Polishing is often used to remove the surface of stainless steel.

5. Passivation

The common agents used during passivation are nitric or citric acid. They help to remove free iron on the surface of the steel to improve its resistance to rust.

6. Electroplating

This process uses electricity to coat one metal alongside a bonded thin layer of a different metal.

Must Surface Finishing Always Involve Manual Operation?

A lot of processes used for surface finishing require that you use manual operation. But for some such as polishing, sanding, or buffing, you can perform them using a robot.

How Does Surface Finishing Work?

When performing a surface finish, the end goal is usually to improve a product’s appearance, chemical or mechanical properties. Depending on the process you’re using, you can achieve surface finishing in different ways. Nonetheless, they can be divided into four categories. You can either:

• Add Materials -this is a process of including extra material on the product’s surface. It can be done through galvanizing, powder coating, or plasma spraying.
• Alter Materials- Pickling, carburization, or flame polishing are the different ways that you can alter the chemical or material properties of a product.
• Remove Materials- This is done through the use of chemicals or abrasive media.
• Reshape Materials – Here, chemical pressure is added to define the surface of the material.

Final Thoughts

Before performing surface finish on your product, you should understand what the process entails. This guide shows you exactly how surface finishing works.

A flexo printing plate is a light-sensitive plate (photopolymer) used to transfer ink to a substrate during printing. There are different ways of processing these plates: digital, traditional, and thermal flexo plate processing. Note, the plates’ specifications vary depending on the process used, but one thing that should remain constant is the methods to maintain them. In this extract, we discuss the tips for maintaining a flexo printing plate.

Tips for Maintaining a Flexo Printing Plate

1.Relief Depth

A plate has two sides, the bottom side, the floor of the plate, and the upper side, also known as the printing surface. This is the side that the prints appear. The difference between the two sides is what is known as the relief depth. The depth varies with each plate depending on the thickness. Each plate thickness has a recommended depth that should get considered for you to produce a high-quality plate.

2. Quality of Image

The original image plays a significant part in determining the quality of the flexo plate. Whether the processing machine uses a digital or traditional plate, the final product will match the original one. If the quality is poor, the end product will also be of low quality and vice versa. When using film to develop traditional plates, the film density must be kept over 4.0. The digital plates, the imager should get checked to ensure the focus and settings are okay. Lastly, the test should be done periodically and, most importantly, done by an expert.

3. Drying Process

Using flexographic plates before they are completely dry shortens their life span and leads to poor registration. The plate is an essential part of the printing process as it transfers ink to the printing material. A wet plate appears swollen due to solvent retention. Certain factors may cause a plate not to dry completely, such as poor air circulation in the dryer or removing the plate from the dryer earlier than intended.

4. Conditions of Exposure

The printing room should be kept clean, free from dust and dirt. These slowly damage the plates, reducing their life. Also, the plate has two UV bulbs that need to be checked regularly and also replaced. Weak bulbs may extend the exposure time but lead to widened plate shoulder angles, damaging the flexo plates.

5. Saturation of the Polymer

The plate making solvents use water or hydrocarbon solvent to wash away excess polymer found in the plates non-printing areas. During this process, the polymer solids are contaminated, and how saturated they determine the plate’s quality. The concentration of the solids should be kept below 6%. The machines should also be cleaned often to remove all-polymer particles that may build up over time.

6.Plate Handling

The plates are delicate and fragile; hence should be handled with care. A plate should not be folded, placed on sharp objects, exposed to harsh chemicals or direct sunlight.

Conclusion

The factors discussed above are essential and should be considered when maintaining the plate’s quality. Remember, when plates are well maintained, your printing quality will always be top class, and lastly, the very plates will last long.

There are a lot of different finishing services. A lot of them reshape and remove the surface layer of products. These different finishing techniques could be applied to different materials, tighter tolerances, increased durability, improved functionality, and better appearance.

So if you are ready to learn about the various types of finishing services in greater detail, click that link and let’s get started!

Common Types of Finishing Service

Below is a list of the main kinds of finishing services.

1. Electro Polish Finishing Service

This type of Finishing Service uses electric current to get rid of materials from machine surfaces and their components. These processes improve the finish of surfaces by levelling out valleys and micro peaks on the layer of the metal surface, created during the process of machining.

Further, Electro Polish is the opposite of electroplating, which uses current to put on more materials on the surface of machine components.

2. Grinding Finishing Service

This refers to the process that uses grinding wheels that are abrasive to get rid of materials from the top of precision components. This helps to improve the surface’s finish and create accurate dimensions, and they also lead to a wide variety of applications. These all depend on the geometry of turned components.

There is centered grinding, which might be used to finish the process. Grinding is usually done using Outside Diameter, Inside Diameter, and several other components like flats, slots, and holes.

Grinding is divided into two different parts:

● Honing

This refers to a grinding subset. It is used from the Inside Diameter of the precision component, which is machined. Even though honing is a grinding process, it tends to appear more like a polishing process. Honing processes make use of rotating stones which is also known as hone. These have clear abrasives that get rid of delicate layers on the surface of the material.

● Lapping

Lapping is the second subset of grinding. It is used on the Outer Diameter (OD) to serve as a turned precision component, improving the finishing service and creating tight dimensional control. This process has abrasive materials which serve as paste forms that are applied on lap plates. These components are passed against plates to get rid of the polish available on the top layer.

3. Laser Engraving Finishing Service

This refers to the process that uses lasers to make images like numbers or letters on the logo appear on the top of a specific Machined component. The laser beams make the metal vaporize. The entire process is used when the shape or font required cannot get created through the milling or turning method. Because the font cannot reach using normal methods like turning or milling, laser engraving finishing service type is used instead.

Final Thoughts

In all, finishing services have a lot of types, and rules that aid qualified partners to finish their finishing service tasks quickly and with haste. Finishing services can be applied to different sectors such as the medical and engineering industry. They aid in the creation of finished components that meet several essential requirements. These finishing service types end up being essential to provide needed finished products.

In factories, factory tools and machinery were manually moved by humans since most of the lathes and milling machines were manual. However, with the advent of technology, most machines in the factory have become computerized. As a result, CNC milling machines have replaced the manually operated ones. With Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machining, the movement of factory machinery and tools is controlled by computer software. There are several advantages that CNC milling has over manual milling. These benefits include:

Consistent Quality

Computers are always accurate as compared to humans. The accuracy of some computers is close to 99%. Consequently, using CNC machines will give you the consistent quality of your end product. You should note that cnc milling machines are also more precise. You can repeat the desired process over and over. Even better, if you want to make improvements or alterations, you only have to do it once by updating the software.

Increased Efficiency and Production

Since computers are used to control the milling machines through computer software, machine operation is automatic. The automation of the process increases the speed of manufacturing. Besides that, it also increases the quality of the whole manufacturing process. Machines also do not get tired or require breaks. This makes CNC milling machines more efficient than manual milling machines.

Safety

One of the most significant advantages that CNC machines have over manual machines is safety. Manual machines require human input. Milling machines have rotating parts. Therefore, people operating the machines are usually at risk of getting injured by the machines. Using CNC machines is very safe as they can be set up behind closed safety doors.

Cost-Effective

Traditional milling machines need one human operator per machine. For CNC machines, one operator can operate several machines simultaneously. Therefore, the cost of operation of CNC machines is lower than that of manually operated milling machines.

How CNC Milling Machines Work

The most common feature of CNC milling machines is that the part to be machined is usually clamped, directly or through a fixture or a vice, on top of the machining table. The cutting tool and the spindle is either horizontally vertically positioned. This arrangement makes it easy to achieve the desired shape of the material being machined. The cutting tools rotate at very high speeds along to or more axes.

Parts of a CNC Milling Machine

Some of the central parts of a CNC milling machine include frame, spindle, axes, columns, and control panel. The frame holds the entire machine and gives it stability. It usually consists of several detachable columns and a base. The spindle is the “heart” of the machine since it houses the rotating parts. The CNC control panel is the “brain” of the machine tool. It consists of electronics used to control the machines’ cutting actions to achieve different shapes and designs.

In most CNC machines, the control panel is usually within easy reach for ease of operation. Some machines also come with manual functionality to support the electronic functions in case of a malfunction. This means you can always fulfill orders from your customers.

The continuous spread of COVID-19 has an impact on the rapid manufacturing industry. Supply chains, coupled with markets, have been affected. As the number of affected patients who need treatment continues to increase, healthcare providers are experiencing shortages in essential equipment, with ventilators topping the list.

The World Health Organization reiterates that 75% of COVID-19 patients recover without the need for hospital treatment. But two in seven people become ill. In such cases, the coronavirus damages the lungs. It also causes the oxygen levels of the body to drop. This makes it hard to breathe.

For this to be alleviated, a ventilator is used. It takes over the patient’s breathing system when the lungs fail. This gives a patient time to fight off the coronavirus and recover.

After realizing that there is a shortage, governmental calls to the rapid manufacturing sector have been made to help produce and mobilize ventilators from manufacturers to service providers.

Additive manufacturing initiatives have also been spearheaded to help track the development of ventilators to meet demand. Simultaneously, networking sites such as LinkedIn have become the hallmark for sourcing solutions coupled with signal boosting devices of various local calls for assistance.

To help reduce the rising number of infections, Governments have reached out to rapid manufacturing industries to help in the production of ventilators and other PPE kits to support the healthcare industry.

Among them is the European Union, which just approached the Machine Tool Industry to produce equipment lacking in hospitals. Following this call to action, AM companies are using their skills to produce ventilators.

The government of the United Kingdom has also called on businesses, including those with RP skills, to send blueprints to ventilator manufacturers. Aerospace and automotive companies heed to this call by forming teams to manufacture ventilators.

According to healthcare researchers, one of the projects includes building a variety of oxygen systems for military aerospace applications.

The USA is reportedly going to connect the AM industry’s capabilities with the healthcare providers’ particular needs using an online repository.

When the month began, AM German AM companies spearheaded the acceleration of rapid prototyping services in transport to help reach out to patients who needed instant medical attention.

In just about three days of issuing the call, the healthcare departments reported having received support in materials and capacity from more than 200 RM companies.

The coronavirus spread has affected the world’s economy in many ways, including sending most furlough workers. That is why government officials are contacting RP companies to supply ventilators and other PPE kits.

Medical devices used to diagnose and treat coronavirus patients include diagnostic tests and ventilators. There is a vitro diagnostic test conducted on various samples of mucus swabs harvested from the nose for testing.

A blood sample can also be taken from the patient’s finger prick. It is important to note that testing is crucial to diagnosing coronavirus and getting accurate numbers.

Final Thoughts

As more hospitals in the world continue to face shortages in ventilators, engineers, and physicians across the world have partnered to find out how to make ventilators at lower cost.