Your 3D Prototyping Partners

Always on the lookout for new ways to optimize their workflow, PING recently set out to find new polyjet 3D printing technologies that could be used to further speed up and reduce the costs of its development processes. Additive manufacturing has been used at PING for over 20 years in various capacities, so investigating developments in that field was a logical next step. The company set out to pinpoint specific stages in its process through which implementation would benefit the entire manufacturing organization.

In the factory of the future, automation is king along with end-of-arm tooling. Manufacturers can drastically reduce lead times, reduce labor costs, and increase overall efficiency through the use of robotics at several stages in their workflow.

These machines serve a variety of functions on the factory floor, including everything from gripping and positioning parts to welding and painting assemblies in the later stages of the manufacturing process.

While each function serves a unique purpose specific to the task it will perform, they all utilize an essential component known as End-of-Arm tooling (EOAT).

In this case study, you will see Salt Lake City, Utah based company utilize 3D printing for extra benefits.

The production of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and antibodies is a highly intricate and innovative process that relies on technology matching its level of complexity. The vessels used in the procedure, called bioreactors, are designed to carry out the required chemical processes key to this industry. Inside is a tank in which growing organisms are submerged and suspended in a liquid solution where they can perform their desired function with limited production of impurities. In order to ensure a consistent, high-quality output, bioreactors are designed to control internal environmental factors such as temperature, nutrient concentrations, pH, and dissolved gases; all of which can drastically affect the growth and productivity of the contained organisms if not carefully regulated.

Meet Johan, director of Energetic Machinery in Belgium, and experience his passion for industrial steam turbines. Their company repairs and replaces turbomachinery components. They use optical 3D Scanning to capture existing geometry and reverse engineer replacement parts or plan their refurbishment. The portable nature of the GOM and ZEISS optical scanners allows them to go to the customer site accurately capture geometry.
Energetic Machinery is a classic example of how manufacturing companies across industries leverage #HandsOnMetrology to drive their reverse engineering efforts.

Meet Olivier from E-bike manufacturer Cowboy in Brussels. The company’s aim is to manufacture urban mobility solutions that offer amazing design, seamless usage, and affordability. At cowboy, they are pushing the boundaries of design, including a completely flush assembly even though it consists of different components. To achieve the precision they need, they leverage the power of 3D Scanning to capture their complex surface. That information is used to improve the design and make quick design iterations.

High heat loads limit the miniaturization of portable computers, power electronic devices and high-power LED lighting. Most ambitious technological solutions from the lab are not ready for mass production and deployment in consumer products. But industrial 3D printing, or so-called additive manufacturing, can bridge the gap for thermal
management components and keep lossy electronics cool even when the
available space is severely limited. The freedom of design provided by 3D printed thermal management components offers the same or superior effectiveness as conventionally manufactured components, but requires much less space. Enlarged surfaces, any-shape geometries and conformal cooling channels are among the opportunities of this manufacturing technology.
The efficiency gains that can be achieved were demonstrated with a gaming CPU cooler design for additive manufacturing. To maintain the same chip temperature, the new part requires 81 % less space and 93 % less weight than the best-in-class conventional cooler.