Page 29 - 3D Metal Printing Summer 2016

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combines with various additive processes, often with the aid of manipulators and backed by software and controls to per- form work without any human interven- tion. Key to these technologies reaching commercial level has been the develop- ment of positioning software and hard- ware to enable accuracy and repeatability while meeting required tolerances in a suitable timeframe.
More than just the sum of their parts, these hybrids can machine or finish parts in sections, prior to part completion when access for machining and finishing would be impossible. The technology also allows repair of and additions to existing parts.
Here is some of what’s out there...and we’ll have more in future issues of 3D Metal Printing.
Combination AM, CNC Grinding and In-Process Part Inspection
While attending a UK tradeshow last year, 3D Metal Printing caught wind of pro- duction-ready AM/SM technology from Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies, Dallas, TX, though in truth the company had been working in partnerships for years on the project. The effort has paid off with a couple of new products.
The AmBit multi-task system consists of heads and docking systems that allow virtually any CNC machine or robotic platform to use nontraditional processing heads in the spindle, and conveniently change between them. Changeover is completely automated and only takes seconds, according to company officials—changing from adding metal to cutting it requires a simple tool swap.
The company also has premiered millGrind, what it calls the world’s first hybrid grinding machine on the market.
The millGrind, a continuous-dress creep-feed grinding machine manufactured by Elb-Schliff WZM GmbH of Germany, comes equipped with AmBit laser-cladding and milling capability (AmBit cladding head pictured within a CNC tooling magazine). The system integrates surface and profile grinding with AM in a single setup, reducing the traditional number of setups needed to achieve finished parts.
“Precision-ground surface finishes now are achievable in-process on parts made by additive manufacturing,” explains Dr. Jason Jones, Hybrid Manufacturing chief executive officer. Grinding particularly excels in cost-effectiveness for processing materials that are difficult to machine, such as nickel-based superalloys, performing finishing more precisely than milling, according to company officials, and making this setup ideal for aerospace applications. The millGrind runs conventional abrasives (corundum) and has an XYZ resolution of 0.1 μ. Changeover between grinding wheels can be performed within seconds. In addition, the 8000-rpm spindle can be automatically loaded with milling cutters for drilling, tapping and other milling operations as needed.
Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies: www.hybridmanutech.com
3DMPmag.com
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