14 months since the start of the project, the Boing 787-9 has finally achieved a great millstone with optimizing the manufacturing of extremely complex titanium parts for the Boing 787-9 project. The parts where designed by Messier – Bugatti – Dowty (MBDT) and manufactured in Safran’s Suzhou factory.
CATIA was used for the design and CNC programming while NCSIMUL Machine was used for CNC machining program verification and optimization as well as technical documents edition to support CNC operators on their daily tasks. Now the machining and setup time are greatly reduced and the overall production process efficiency on the shop floor, dramatically improved.
The amazing technical team at SAFRAN Suzhou factory worked extremely hard to deliver the parts on time. Many more challenges await the team in 2013 but with great team effort and the right technologies anything is possible.
Very powerful 3d printer from Hyrel! Many advanced functions and technologies like: embedded PC with touch LCD screen, interchangeable hot swappable programmable multiple extruders, live Z trim on-the-fly, real time changing of print settings, air filter, remote control ...
Two 15 year old South Africans create Windows mobile phone app that enables Nokia Lumia to 3d print cover for itself. Wow!
From video description:
Gerhard de Clercq and Pieter Sholtz, two South African teens, talk about their innovation that allows 3D printing directly from their phone and their mission to make 3D printing more accessible in Africa through mobile.
Shapeoko 2 is a simple, low cost, open source CNC milling machine kits that can be built over a weekend. Assembly is required before you can use it. This is version 2 of the fastest selling CNC machine in the history of the world. The machine has been under development for the last five years. Edward Ford has been designing, redesigning, and building what he hoped would be a CNC machine that anyone can build. This machine is by far his best one yet. Note: There is also further information about the machine, kits, kit contents and other things on this blog post.Updated features: Larger work area Dual motors on the Y axis, standard Dual Maker Slide on the X gantry improves stiffness Completely redesigned Z axis makes changing bits easier and improves stiffness Open front and back for larger materials. Easier to expand Easier to assemble Improved belt design keeps dust out of teeth Mechanical Kit – $299 The Mechanical kit is designed for experts that are interested in adding their own electronics or making serious modifications to suit their needs. After assembly of the Mechanical Kit, the Shapeoko will not be functional. Full Kit – $649 – $685 This kit includes the mechanical components, motors, controller, power supply, wiring, pulleys, belts, stepper cable, tools for assembly, and a spindle.
Boboi Box is the best complete electronic kit for 3D Printer beginner.
- Easy to use, Easy to Install, Pre-labelled, Pre-Programmed, Fully Tested
1 .It's an all-in-one 3D printer controller that allow you to fully control your 3D Printer without connecting to any other devices.
2. Once you have this controller, you can basically use it for any kinds of stepper motors based 3D printers that you can find in the reprap.org. Which also includes the most popular models like Prusa and Original Mendel.
3. It's an easy to use and easy to install Electronic kit that never before, Everything is pre-labelled, properly set up and well organized. All you need to do is finding the right pins and make simple connections.
2 N-MOSFETs for Extruder and Heatbed control 1 N-MOSFET for low power PWM Mosfet driven outputs
External Reset button for emergency stop External 5V supply and GND for any other modules External Joystick connection pins for manual control External LCD connection pins for standard 20x4 LCD
Extra pins available for Raspberry Pi expansion and development; RX,Tx and GND SDA, SCL and GND
Physical Characteristics 4-Layer PCB with proper ground plane and power distribution networks The maximum length and width of the Baboi are 115 and 60 mm respectively, with the USB connector and power terminals extendng beyond the former dimension. Three screw holes allow the board to be attacted to a surface or case. Baboi is deigned to be compatible with most of 3D printers in the current market. Further from that, UART(serial port) is also connected as external pins for Raspberry Pi for further development uses.
USB overcurrent Protection Babo has a resettable polyfuse that protects your computer's USB ports from shorts and overcurrent. Although most computers provide their own internal protection, the fuse provides an extra layer of protection. If more than 500 mA is applied to the USB port, the fuse will automatically break the connection until the short or overload is removed.
3 Modes for Baboi Box:
1. SD Card Printing mode
You can store all your gcode into MicroSD card and inserted into Baboi box, It would automatic read your gcode and start printing after it reach its printing temperature.
2. Manual Control Mode
This mode is perfect for open source 3D printers, as we all known open hardware 3D printer is not as stable as other finished products. So that you will find this mode very useful when you first time set up your printers or when you fix hardware problems. It's an easy-to-use hardware testing function.
3. PC Mode
For people who still like to connect your 3D printer to Computer, here's the mode that you probably would use.
This looks cool. Maybe I'll find a laser cutter (which is not the easiest task in rural Croatia) in the future and try to build it. I wonder what are the heat retention impacts on print quality ...
From project description:
A modified version of the Mendel90 which uses a lasercut melamine coated MDF frame (same fixing idea as the graber i3 frame). It allows an acrylic enclosure to be fitted.
Main changes: Frame re-designed, Z axis changed to laser cut parts. Some plastic parts modified (not many) Acrylic enclosure added Wiring simplified - all motors have detachable plugs, endstops are push fit. this allows for a wiring loom to be used. RAMPS electronics as standard with the Panelolu2 controller.
Poppy is an Open-source humanoid platform based on robust, flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. Designed by the Flowers Lab at inria Bordeaux (France), its development aims at providing an affordable humanoid robot for Research and Education.
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) University of California, San Diego created Tri-D Addittive manufactured (3D Printed) static fire system (aka working metal 3d printed rocket engine). Wow!
Custom 1/16th inch Carbon Fiber Plates and Motor Mounts
2024 1/2inch OD 1/32 Wall Aluminum Booms
Custom CNCed Delrin Boom Mounts
6 x E-flite Power 15 Motors W/ 13×6 props
6 x E-flite 40amp ESC
Spektrum dx7 Remote
Overall Weight W/Batteries: 10.8 LBS
Future Plans
Hexapod Catch & Release Mechanism – Whats cooler then a Hexapod Merged with a Hexcopter? When the two can detach, and reattach with each other on the fly!
Switch to Open Source Flight Controller – Currently Leaning in the direction of using a Crius AIO PRO
Hexapod MavLink Support – Upgrade Hexapod Code to support MavLink Protocol for communications so you can use the APM for control of both machines
Upgrade Servos – Some of the servos are very strained depending on the stance, having props spun up obviously can help reduce this
Scientists have channeled their inner shoe designer for this latest project – and just in time for Spring Racing Carnival. In a horse-ome titanium 3D printing first, our scientists have scanned a race horse’s hooves using a handheld scanner and then, with sophisticated modelling software they designed the perfect fitting, lightweight racing shoe. Four of the customized kicks were printed within only a few hours! “3D printing a race horse shoe from titanium is a first for scientists and demonstrates the range of applications the technology can be used for, although it’s certainly very different from our everyday work,” said our titanium expert, John Barnes.
I've been working on a program called Super Matter Tools at Taubman College at the University of Michigan. I've been collaborating with Taubman Fab Lab Director, Wes McGee, and with Dave Pigram, Director, Master of Advanced Architecture Program at University of Technology Sydney. They were the original developers of Super Matter Tools (SMT).
SMT is one of the programs used for tool path programming of the lab's robots. It's important that the lab develops its own software tools because of the number of unique research tracks taken in the lab. These custom tools and operations are not supported by commercial CAM applications such as MasterCAM, RhinoCAM, etc.
Developing a Graphical User Interface for Rhino Python
SMT began as a command line script. The first step was to eliminate the command line and replace it with a graphical user interface.
The earliest prototypes were created using SharpDevelop. Here's an example of a very early mock up done using SharpDevelop:
We didn't want to rely on that tool. Instead we wanted to have it all coded in python without the need for an external IDE. I developed those fundamental UI tools back in late 2012. They are available for any Rhino Python programmer to use - see my post Easily Create Graphical User Interfaces in Rhino Python to download the code and learn to use it.
The code continued to develop (!) until functionally it did as much as the command line version. That is, generated code for a single robot and a single operation. Here's the UI at that point - it only worked for one robot and operation - but the aim was to support more eventually and the UI reflects this:
Multiple Robots
In 2013 the lab upgraded its robotics capabilities by adding four more robots. We then needed to update the SMT workflow to support multiple robots, with multiple operations for each robot. The python class structure was revised and the tree view was updated to support this. Here are a few screen grabs of various UI panels.
This panel is for the Workcell. The workcell determines which robot or robots are available. From here you can import the workcell geometry (a 3D model of the robot environment) as well as add programs.
This is the panel for editing programs. A program is associated with a single machine. Controls here allow you to import the machine geometry, generate code for the robot to execute, and add operations.
This is the panel for editing operations. The process determines which tool is used.
Under each operation are pages for selecting geometry, specifying tool orientation, and curve division.
There are other panels, for instance this one, which allow you to set the start and end point for the robots movements.
Interactive Posing and Code Generation
Initially, you set everything up in SMT and only after pressing OK to exit the UI did it generate code or pose the robots. It became clear quickly that we could keep the UI up and do both those things. So the UI was updated to support interactive posing and generation of single operations as well as full programs.
We also added the capability to generate videos of the simulation. Here's an example of this type of rendering. This shows the robot moving along a helix toolpath.
A Simulate button and Trackbar control were added to control the simulation of the robot over the toolpaths. You can simulate a single operation, a single program, or multiple synchronized robots.
Dynamic Draw
We are in the process of adding temporary drawing (similar to Grasshopper) rather than posing the Rhino geometry.
Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines can be broadly categorized as follows:
Additive
Subtractive
Shaping / Molding
Some of the machines fall into one category only - for example 3D printers are additive. Others, such as robots can handle many different processes and can accomplish work of all three types.
3D Printers
Between the UM 3D Lab and Taubman College there are several types of printers available.
The Dimension Elite FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) machine works by selectively applying ABS plastic in thin cross sectional layers until the entire part is printed. The resulting parts are relatively strong. For more information on this process see Dimension Elite FDM Details.
The ZCorp machine uses a gypsum based powder with multi-colored binder/glue. It can print one vertical inch per hour, in full color, and cures with salt water. Models are usually heavier than the FDM’s models, and are more delicate. For more details see ZCorp 510 Details.
The Cube printers are also available. These machines are open access and very easy to use. You purchase your own print cartridge and can run these machines on your own. The details on getting set up to print with these machines is available here.
Laser Cutters
Students at Stamps and Taubman have access to two laser cutter machines, named L1 and L2. This is L1, L2 is right behind it.
These machines use a laser to cut at 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. L1 can cut in an area up to 36"x21". L2 supports 35"x20". These machines have a more powerful laser and larger cutting area than the three Universal Laser Systems machines available only to Taubman students:
The machines can cut wood, paper and plastic. The maximum material thickness is 1/4". You cannot cut plated plastic, PVC, or corrugated cardboard.
Depending on how well tuned the machines are the kerf (width of the material removed during the cut) varies from 0.004" to 0.015".
There are two 3-Axis Routers available. Both have 4' x 8' vacuum tables to hold the work. This one is operated by the Taubman staff.
Its neighbor is used by the Art & Design staff. It is also available for Taubman students to use at any time provided they have been trained in its use.
Each router has a 10 tool changer. The Tabuman router can use both conventional and shrink fit collets. The Stamps school router must only use the conventional collets. See below for more information on collets types.
Here's an example of one of the 3-axis routers cutting the side of a sleigh bed. Full details on this project are available here - Wolfe Sleigh Bed Fabrication. In the video most of the roughing has been done. A 3/4" diameter tool is making the edge cuts.
In the video below a 1" ball end bit is used for the final finish passes. It steps 0.07" with each pass until the entire surface has been smoothed.
4-Axis Router
Stamps students have access to a Roland MDX-540A 4-Axis Router. The 4th axis allows the part to be rotated during the cut which can greatly simplify the making of certain types of parts. The table dimensions are 18" x 18". The work piece must be clamped down. Despite the small size this is a very high quality router.
Roland video on the MDX-540:
5-Axis Routers
Taubman has a 5-Axis Router available. The machine has a large enclosure surrounding it. This limits the spread of debris while cutting. That's an important consideration given this tool doesn't have a dust collection system like the 3-axis routers do. That's because the head of the tool can rotate so much it makes it impractical to surround it with a dust extraction hood.
The machine has a 5'x10' vacuum table. Parts as small as 12"x6" can be held securely with vacuum pressure. Smaller parts require mechanical clamping or more sophisticated fixturing.
The machine has a tool changer which holds 10 tools.
A touch screen control panel is available for loading programs and controlling the operation during the cuts.
This video shows part of the process of creating a table using the 5-axis router. Full details on the table production are available here: Torus Knot Table Fabrication.
This video shows the router cutting foam - see Pedestal Fabrication for details:
Abrasive Water Jet Cutter
The 3 axis water jet is designed for cutting two dimensional profiles or shapes out of flat sheet materials, ranging from sheet metal to metal plate and plastics. In all but a few cases, water jet systems cut completely through a part, and do not have control over depth, like routers or milling machines.
The lab's Flow IFB4800 has a working range of 4'x 8' with 8" of vertical range. This machine is equipped with state of the art dynamic head technology, which eliminates the kerf taper common with waterjets, and can reliably produce parts with .005" tolerances.
Parts are clamped to the ribs over the water tank. Larger parts, which span multiple ribs can be completely cut out. Smaller parts (which would fall between the ribs if cut loose) require tabs to hold them in place. These tabs are then cut manually to release the part.
This video shows the water jet cutting 1/8" stainless steel to make some bed hardware. This is another part of the Wolfe Sleight Bed project. You can see the tiny tabs on the edges of the parts.
Zund Cutter
The Zund is a knife cutting machine capable of cutting thin materials at very high speed. It has a 5' x 10' table. It can cut paper, cardboard, plastic and wood veneer up to 1/16" thick.
CAD files are exported to the Adobe Illustrator format (.AI) and are loaded into the machine.
The knives are mounted in rotating holders which automatically align tangent to the cut.
Here is a short video of the machine in operation cutting thin plastic:
7-Axis Robots
There are two large 7-axis Kuka Robots, each with a 10' x 8' reach. They are placed on tracks, one 30' the other 20'. The machines are accurate to about 1mm. The robots can load a variety of tools including a milling head for cutting wood and foam, and a water jet cutting nozzle for full 3D cutting of any material.
