3d printed rotary table factory

When needing to hold medium to large parts for multi-side machining or complex contouring, the HAAS HRT Series rotary tables are the perfect solution. The rugged, heavy-duty rotary tables can be mounted vertically or horizontally, and they feature precision T-slots and large through-holes for versatile fixturing.

Der Dreh-Schwenktisch MAX Machining Table MMT-500-DD von MABI Robotic ist das perfekte Zubehör für Ihre Robotik Applikation im Bereich der Additiven Fertigung. Er ist ab Werk mit leistungsstarken, wassergekühlten Direktantrieben und einem hochauflösenden Encoder ausgestattet. Das garantiert hohe Leistung für eine effiziente Bearbeitung, kombiniert mit hoher Positioniergenauigkeit für eine hohe Bearbeitungsgenauigkeit. Der MMT-500-DD von MABI Robotic wurde speziell für Robotik Anwendungen im AM Bereich entwickelt.

Die massive Bauweise bietet eine extrem hohe Torsionssteifigkeit und eignet sich deshalb bestens für Anwendungen mit dynamischen Kräften, wie dem Fräsen. Die Tischplatte mit Endlosdrehung bietet mit optionaler Drehdurchführung, nebst elektrischen und pneumatischen Schnittstellen, auch eine Mediendurchführung. Die vielfältigsten Bearbeitungsszenarien lassen sich so realisieren – vom 3D-Druck bis hin zu mechanischer Bearbeitung. Die Ø600mm Tischplatte ist standardmässig mit M8 Gewinden versehen. Kundespezifische Tischplatten sind auf Anfrage erhältlich.

, which falls under the umbrella of additive manufacturing (AM), builds parts one layer at a time. 3D printing and other AM processes don’t require special tooling or fixtures, so the initial setup cost is minimal compared to CNC machining.

There are a ton of factors to consider when choosing the optimal manufacturing technology for your specific applications. Luckily, we’ve devised a few simple guidelines for selecting either 3D printing or CNC machining (or both in some cases).

CNC machining offers greater dimensional accuracy than 3D printing (this may change with further innovations to AM) and produces parts with better mechanical properties in all three dimensions. However, CNC machining usually comes with a

If you need to produce higher quantities of parts—hundreds or even thousands of individual components—then neither 3D printing or CNC machining may be the most viable option. Traditional forming technologies, like

The number of parts you plan to produce will play an important role in your final decision between 3D printing or CNC machining. In the table below, we break this down by the number of parts, materials and part geometry. Aside from our principal recommendations, we also include alternative options.

Each 3D printing system offers a different dimensional accuracy. Industrial machines can produce parts with very good tolerances. If tight clearances are required, the critical dimensions can be 3D printed oversized, and then machined during post-processing.

FDM or the laser spot size in SLS). Since parts are fabricated one layer at a time, layer lines might be visible, especially on curved surfaces. The maximum part size is relatively small, as 3D printing often requires pretty strict environmental control.

3D printing is predominantly used to create parts using thermoplastics and thermosets, though you can print metal parts with some technologies. Several 3D printers can produce parts from ceramics, wax, sand, composites and a growing roster of bio-materials.

Part complexity is a major factor to consider when choosing between 3D printing and CNC machining. Both technologies have their share of design limitations, though CNC machines can produce far fewer geometries.

Compared to CNC, 3D printing can produce parts with very few geometric limitations. Support structures may be needed for processes like FDM, but a little extra post-processing doesn’t diminish the vast design freedom and capacity for complexity you get with 3D printing.

It’s important to understand the workflows for both types of manufacturing processes discussed in this article. Let’s break down the workflows for 3D printing and CNC machining.

With 3D printing, the operator will first prepare the digital file, choosing orientation and adding supports if necessary. Then the file will go to the machine, where the printer does all the building work with little to no human intervention. When printing is complete, the part will need to be cleaned and go through post-processing. These last steps are the most labor-intensive parts of the 3D printing manufacturing workflow.

There are many post-processing methods that can be applied to both 3D printing and CNC machining to improve the functional and cosmetic qualities of parts. Let’s cover the most common post-processing techniques.

Enclosures for electronics often have snap fits, living hinges or other interlocking joints and fasteners. You can produce all of these features with FDM and SLS 3D printing or CNC machining.

When the geometric complexity increases or when you need to use less common materials, you may want to consider metal 3D printing. Components optimized for weight and strength (like the brackets of the image below) have organic structures that are very difficult and costly to machine with CNC systems.

Of course, you can combine CNC machining and metal 3D printing to manufacture parts with organic shapes and very tight tolerances at critical locations on the components.

Selecting the right manufacturing technology for your custom parts may feel like an insurmountable challenge, but it doesn"t have to. We’ve put together a few essential rules of thumb to follow if you’re facing this decision.

The short answer to this question is: it depends. CNC machines can produce parts with smoother surfaces than 3D-printed parts, and you probably want to go with CNC machining if you want your components to fit together with precision. 3D printing yields excellent parts for finish and fit, though the quality of both also depend on which type of 3D printer you’re using.

3D printing hasn’t replaced CNC machining, more traditional subtractive methods or injection molding yet, but additive technology is advancing rapidly. You can now 3D print parts from a wider variety of materials, including some metals. However, for many applications, CNC machining is the better option.

These are near net shape additive manufacturing systems that offer both print and trim on the same machine. They are configured with a fixed table, high walls and a moving gantry or gantries. Doors on each end enclose the machine so they can be built to meet European CE requirements. The model number 1010, 1020 and 1040, denote the table size in feet 10"x10", 10"x20" and 10"x40". Model numbers 1520 and 1540 denote the table size in feet 15"x20" and 15"x40".

Although Thermwood is routinely building LSAMs in 40 foot lengths, even longer machines are possible, although nothing longer than 40 feet has been built to date. The 1010 has a single control with both the print and trim heads mounted on a single moving gantry. It can both print and trim but not at the same time. The 1020 and larger machines have dual controls and dual gantries, one for print and one for trim. With these machines, it is possible to print one part on one end of the table and trim another on the other end at the same time. Machines 1020 and larger can be equipped with a Vertical Layer Print System, allowing parts to be printed on a moving vertical table that are as tall as the machine table is long.

This machine is configured with both a print and trim head on a single fixed gantry mounted over a moving table. Like the 1010 above, this system can both print and trim, but not at the same time. The moving table is 10"x12" with a 10"x10" working area. The additional two foot of table length is for mounting an optional Vertical Layer Print Table, allowing parts that are up to ten foot tall to be printed vertically.

Print and trim heads on all LSAM machines are the same. Because of the open table configuration, the MT cannot be built to meet CE requirements. Both the 1010 above and the MT are available as "Print Only" machines for those who already have adequate trimming capability.

These systems are a single gantry, moving table configuration and are available in two table sizes, 5’x5’ and 5’x10’. The 5’x10’ table is available in two configurations, 5’ wide with 10’ of front to back motion and 10’ wide with 5’ of front to back motion. Choice of configuration depends on several factors, fitting it existing factory floor space is one factor.

The weight of the heaviest part you may want to print may be another factor. Systems come standard with a single servo table drive which can accommodate parts that weigh up to about 1,000 pounds. The 10 foot wide table can be equipped with an optional second table drive increasing the maximum weight capacity to 2,000 pounds.

The AM Flexbot is ideal for custom solutions to fit a specific application. Siemens Sinumerik is used to directly control the Comau robot arm, meaning no robot controller is needed. This enables very accurate operation of the robot, especially in terms of position accuracy while travelling along a path. The Siemens Sinumerik can control 31 axes. Therefore your AM Flexbot can be easily extended with additional functions such as a rotary table, additional robots or other production processes such as CNC milling but also other processes.

3D printing is in an interesting position as a fabrication method because printing complicated geometry is often no more expensive than printing a block. Instead, FDM printing is limited by material properties and the process of building in layers. Thus designing for 3D printing requires a new mindset, and part of that mindset is leveraging the geometric freedom of a 3D printer to reduce the complexity and cost of the final assembly. One way to do that is to look at joinery invented for wood working and injection molding and apply that to the constraints of 3D printing. In this blog, I discuss leveraging simple joints like dovetails and snap fits to improve your 3D printed joint designs, supplemented by some examples.

When it comes to constraining two parts, many people think in right angles. And this is efficient, especially when thinking about machining; right angles are generally much easier and faster to make than odd angles, requiring fewer setups and no special bits or indexing tables. To a 3D printer, however, dovetails and straight walls are all the same. With no extra effort, you can constrain another degree of freedom. This comes in handy everywhere, whether you want a sliding assembly or a fastener-less T-joint.

When thinking in angles, bear in mind that the established dovetail shape isn’t the only application. The two-part sliding box shown above accomplishes the same restraint as a dovetail, but looks more like a plate with angled sides. This allows it to slide together with the other half of the box easily, and even includes a little detent at the end to snap it shut. This shape would be very hard to manufacture by most other means, but the Mark Two was able to 3D print joints without supporting materials and achieve a great fit.

Exploring even further, angled geometry in general can help in 3D printing. For instance, printing a sideways V profile, shown below on the left, can create a constraint that would be difficult to machine, but is trivial to print. Meanwhile, a classic tongue and groove joint, as shown on the right, is hard for most printers to make because of the overhang it creates. This overhang results in a poorly supported bottom face with bad dimensional accuracy, and should be avoided if possible.

Snap fits are a commonly used method for cheaply joining injection molded parts. These are good shapes for plastics because they stay within the geometric constraints of mold making and use plastic’s ability to elastically deform and then snap back into shape. Because snap fits are designed for plastic, they are easily adopted for 3D printing…on the XY plane. Most 3D printer users know that objects printed on desktop FDM printers are significantly more susceptible to failure in tension along the Z axis (pointing out of the build plate) than in X and Y, because of the inter-layer boundaries. Since snap fits usually have thin cross-sections (to reduce bending moment of the clip), 3D printed snap fits must be printed “laying down” on the build plate, lest they risk shearing after repeated use.

This diagram shows an exaggerated visualization of the layers of a printed snap fit. When printed upright (pictured at left), the forces that deflect the snap fit also put tension between the layers, making it significantly more likely to break. Printed on its back (pictured at center), a snap fit will definitely be stronger, but still has a shear plane running between the tooth and the arm. Printed laying down on its side (pictured at right), however, the snap fit has no layer boundaries within its cross-section, giving it more predictable strength. And, if the snap fit is big enough, printing it on its side would allow fiber to be routed into the tooth, thereby utilizing the full strength of a Markforged part. This same rule applies for gear teeth, ratchet teeth, and any other protrusion that needs to hold significant load.

Bear in mind also that snap fits can take many forms based on application, and that the design and orientation of the snap fit may change based on your project. In particular, snap fits coming out of 3D printer are not constrained by thicknesses or mold shapes, so you can get creative with where you put them (see below). Printers make it quick and easy to prototype, so try a few geometries before settling on the final shape.

This phone holder has just three parts, two interfaces. One of those interfaces is a twisting joint that acts as a hinge. Though it doesn’t look much like a dovetail, it serves the same purpose: it allows for an easily printable sliding fit, thanks to complementary angles.

As with anything, joinery requires designing in your tolerances. On the Mark Two composite 3D printer, for most general purposes, a .08mm gap between each wall (.16mm diametrically) is enough to allow two pieces to consistently achieve a sliding fit. If one of your surfaces is held up by support material, try bumping up the gap to .15mm or so. Of course, 3D printed parts tend to vary widely, so make sure to unit test and prototype to achieve the fit you want.

This is just one small example of how designing with joinery in mind can lead to designs that are simpler and better-fit for your 3D printer. As you find good joints for printing, tweet at us @MarkForged to share your designs!