Protolabs manufacturing facility features 3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding

May 23, 2019
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Protolabs, Maple Plain, Minn., celebrates its 20-year anniversary with a grand opening of its state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility in Brooklyn Park, Minn. The 215,000 sq.-ft. CNC machining facility, which currently houses nearly 300 mills and lathes, is Protolabs’ eighth manufacturing plant in the United States, and twelfth around the globe.

The company says that its digital approach to manufacturing enables accelerated time to market, reduces development and production costs, and minimizes risk throughout the product life cycle. It produces custom parts and assemblies in as little as one day using automated 3D printing, CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and injection molding processes. Its manufacturing model couples digital front-end part analysis with automated toolpathing to produce some custom machined components in only 24 hours.

It now serves more than 45,000 unique product developers each year, across three continents and 60 countries. Over the past 20 years, Protolabs has grown in capabilities with four flagship services and 11 manufacturing technologies, and has added capacity with more than a million square feet of manufacturing space that houses over 1000 machines producing nearly four million parts each month.

“Protolabs has exceeded my wildest dreams,” says Larry Lukis, Protolabs’ founder. “The company was born out of personal frustration that manufacturing parts took months, when it could take days or even minutes. There needed to be a way to make it easier and faster for product developers to get prototype parts and accelerate development cycles. Protolabs has achieved that goal and made advanced manufacturing technologies accessible for everyone, from makers to startups to Fortune 500 companies.”

www.protolabs.com

The Effect of Rapid Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Cold Spray Coatings

May 17, 2019
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This ITSC 2019 paper details the mechanical testing of Al 6061 cold spray coatings before and after a rapid heat treatment with a novel focused IR device. The focused IR device was used to heat treat the cold spray coatings in-process with the aim of improving ductility and substrate-coating bond strength, and reducing residual stresses. 

The treated samples were compared to a controlled annealing process, which was carried out in a furnace after cold spray. The power output of the IR device was set to the maximum level of 220 W/cm², which was focused over a 10 mm diameter outlet area. The number of passes and traverse speed of the heat treatment process were varied in order to optimize the effect of the heat treatment.

The mechanical properties of the coating were tested by tensile testing of dog-bone samples and by performing pull off tests. Residual stresses were evaluated using strain measurement changes, before cold spray and after heat treatment. It was found that the rapid IR heat treatment process delivered advantages with regard to mechanical properties when compared to the untreated state.

Mr. Richard Jenkins, Dr. Barry Aldwell, Mr. Jonathan Cassidy, Prof. Rocco Lupoi, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Tuesday, May 28, 2019: 11:00

Annex Hall/F202 (Pacifico Yokohama)

www.tcd.ie 

Leco metallographic mounting press offers simple operation, touchscreen interface

May 13, 2019
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Leco, Saint Joseph, Mich., introduces the MX400 mounting press, which offers dual mount capability, a slim eight-inch design, a simple steel closure, low thermal mass, and energy-efficient heating with substantially faster cooling than previous generations of mounting presses. Its convenient standby option with selectable temperature keeps the mold cylinder warm between uses, allowing for increased throughput. An optional ventilation system also helps to keep the work area clean and safe from harmful fumes.

A seven-inch touchscreen interface with simple swipe-and-touch operation makes the MX400 easy to use. It is simple to select all parameters, such as heat, pressure, and cure time, for unparalleled versatility. These parameters can then be used to create customizable methods for optimized repeatability.

Leco-developed methods are also available to help the user get started. The MX400 offers three fixed common mold sizes, enabling users to choose the one that best fits their needs: a 1.25 inch, 1.50 inch, and 30 millimeters. The MX400 is ideal in sample preparation for a wide range of applications, including, but not limited, to metal such as steel, iron, and nickel; heat treatment or coatings; and most manufacturing quality control and research and developmental needs.

www.leco.com

One Minute Mentor: Ductile iron austempering temperature and time

May 9, 2019
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The austempering temperature is the primary determinant of the final microstructure and therefore the hardness and strength of the austempered ductile iron product. As the austempering temperature increases, the strength varies, as shown in Fig. 19 for irons with two levels of manganese.

The attainment of maximum ductility at any given austempering temperature is a sensitive function of time. The initial increase in elongation occurs as stage I, and elongation progresses to completion, at which point the fraction of austenite is a maximum.

Further austempering merely serves to reduce ductility, as the stage II reaction causes decomposition to the equilibrium bainite product. Typical austempering times vary from one to four hours.

Adapted from: K. Hayrynen, Heat Treating and Properties of Ductile Iron, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels, Vol 4D, ASM Handbook, ASM International, 2014, p 508–521. https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005937

For more information on this topic, visit the article (subscription required), scroll down the Chapter Contents column on the left, and click on Austempering Ductile Iron.

Wisconsin Oven ships five ovens to East Carolina Metal Treating for stress relieving

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Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, has shipped five electrically heated standard draw batch series ovens with maximum operating temperatures of 1250°F to East Carolina Metal Treating in Raleigh, N.C., for stress relieving.

Basket dimensions are 2 x 3 x 2 feet. Guaranteed temperature uniformity of ±10°F at set points 300°F, 750°F, and 1250°F was documented with a nine-point temperature uniformity survey in empty oven chambers under static operating conditions.

Wisconsin Oven’s heat treat ovens and tempering furnaces (SDB Series) come in ten standard sizes and are available as either gas fired or electrically heated in four temperature ranges. The SDB series features heavy-duty furnace construction, including a plate steel outer shell, a reinforced steel plate oven front, a lined inner shell, and exterior structural reinforcements as required.

These ovens feature temperature uniformity of ±10°F at 300°F, 750°F, and 1250°F. They provide 3600 CFM @ 3 HP recirculation system, and 36 kW heating system with SSR control.

These standard draw batch ovens were fully factory tested and adjusted prior to shipment. All safety interlocks were checked for proper operation and the equipment was operated at the normal and maximum operating temperatures. An extensive quality assurance check list was completed to ensure the equipment met all Wisconsin Oven quality standards.

www.wisoven.com

Ipsen appoints mechanical engineer Andrew Yazot to Midwest Regional Sales Owner

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Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces the transition of Andrew Yazot from International Sales Manager to Midwest Regional Sales Owner, where he will cover nine states in the Midwest. He replaces former Midwest Regional Sales Owner Matt Clinite, who was promoted to Ipsen Customer Service Sales Manager last month.

"My mission is to continue the level of customer service Matt established with customers and prospects in the territory," says Mr. Yazot. "My technical background and attention to detail will allow me to do that."

Mr. Yazot joined the company in 2009 and has provided sales support in Eastern Europe, Russia, Germany, China, and parts of the United States. His degree is in mechanical engineering, and he has worked in technical sales for more than two decades. He will be based out of Ipsen's Cherry Valley facility.

"Andrew is a great asset to Ipsen with more than a decade of working in the industry," says Pete Kerbel, Vice President of Sales, Ipsen USA. "His breadth of domestic and international experience is what makes him a balanced problem-solver, and I have no doubt our Midwestern client base will succeed with Andrew as their representative."

www.ipsenusa.com