Stanley

The confusion between Fused deposition modeling (FDM) and Fused Filament Fabrication has been on for a while now.

People keep wondering if they are the same. Some say they are, but others disagree and say they are different. The only way to find the answer is to look at the details.

In matters like this, it is always best to go back in time to see where each of these organizations started, to know how they have progressed over the years, their similarities, and their differences.

Putting the working principle of both processes before all is a good way to determine the differences and similarities. It will also compare the quality of their products.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

The FDM belongs to Stratasys, Ltd. Stratasys patented this technology in 1989. The well-known FDM machine a nozzle assembly, a table or built-platform, and a material filament.

when the filament enters the extruder, the extruder heats it with temperatures reaching 320 degrees Celsius. until it melts.

The filament then comes out through the nozzle and is carefully and selectively layered on the build platform.

The whole process of heating and melting and layering through a nozzle is isolated from the ambient environment.

The 3D printing process is built to maintain the temperature of the thermoplastic material that is used to print out 3D designs.

The temperature maintenance is done in order not to cause any structural damage that can result from sudden cooling damage to the design.

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)

When the FDM patent expired in 2009, a group came up to start manufacturing their version of 3D printers that FDM previously had.

This group called their equipment the Fused Filament Fabrication.

The purpose of the group that came up with FFF was to enable complex products to be manufactured without any industrial infrastructure set up.

They wanted people to be able to create complex components without big manufacturing bodies getting involved and using their industrial machinery to further it.

The FFF made a few changes in the design of their machine. The FDM used the process of heating the whole print chamber. The FFF did away with that part of the machine to save cost.

This meant that in the FFF, the filament goes through a hot extruder, then through an ambient environment, and then to a cold table.

The sequence of a hot to cold to hot pattern caused residual stresses in the model that was printed.

Conclusion

Back to the question. Are FDM and FFF the same technology? Well, yes. But that does not mean that they are the same thing.

They are both very similar but maintain some differences. Even though the FFF and FDM have the same architectural processes, the major difference is the output quality.

There is an obvious difference in the quality of their products. This is a result of the heating sequence in the different printers.

The FDMs heating sequence is a hot-hot-hot medium while the heating sequence of FFF is a hot-cold-hot medium.

If your intention is to combine metals or plastics, then your best bet will be using a hydraulic press. Just admit it. It is one of the most useful machines in the manufacturing industry.

If you are an advanced user of this machine, this is common knowledge. You might also be used to the tabletop hydraulic press. However, if you are a rookie, you might be wondering what is so special about the hydraulic press.

This article will discuss some of the main benefits you will definitely get from using this machine.

Top Benefits of the Hydraulic Press

1. Flexibility

The first thing that is going to scream amazing with this machine is its flexibility. With the hydraulic press, you can pretty much do everything. The machine allows you to use up and down acting to carry several modes of operation. The multi-action is also available with the hydraulic press.

This means that users get a variety of options to choose from. That is incredible in its own right.

2. Low maintenance

For some people, it’s not about the price of buying these machines, it’s what it takes to actually maintain the machines.

When it comes to a hydraulic press, this isn’t a problem. Hydraulic presses are pretty easy to maintain. This combined with the efficiency of this makes it a very appealing option for companies.

You get similar results if you also use mechanical and eccentric presses. However hydraulic press just edges the competition.

3. Longer lifespan

One of the major problems is usually the tooling of the press. This is because of the amount of stress that tooling has to face. However, with hydraulic press machines, things are a bit different.

It comes with a relief valve. This valve is usually present in the circuit of the press machine.

It relieves some of the stress and pressure that the hydraulic press has to endure. That makes everything so much more bearable.

4. Size

One of the benefits that are often overlooked is the size of hydraulic press machines. They are way smaller when compared to other forms of machines.

For example, a mechanical press is said to occupy twice the amount of floor space that a hydraulic press machine occupies.

This means that with these machines, you get to save a ton of space. That space can be utilized for something much more important.

It’s definitely a win for you.

So how can you get Hydraulic Press Machines?

So, are you ready to make the leap and buy your first machine? If you are, then you will be much better off getting it directly from the manufacturer.

It’s just an easier process. Plus, the machines will be way cheaper than when you get them from a third machine.

It’s definitely worth considering.

Bottom Line

So there you have it! Hydraulic press machines are crucial for the growth of a manufacturing company.

Thus, if you are ready to make the leap, doing some research will definitely get you on the right track.

It’s a decision that you definitely won’t regret.

Metallic components are involved in defects during forging, a process that occurs when a metal is heated. It is then shaped using a plastic deformation process. A compressive force is applied in the form of a hammer blow. You can use a hammer press to achieve the desired results. Forging plays an instrumental role in refining grain structures. It also refines the metal’s physical form. If you want to learn more about forging defects, go to website.

Proper Design Features

With the appropriate design, the flow of grains can quickly get oriented to follow the precise application’s principal stresses. Your metal’s grain flow is the existing pattern of the crystals’ direction during plastic deformation.

Physical properties like ductility and strength are also better in a cold forging than in casting metal with crystals’ random orientation. Defects often occur in various components when cold forging is identified after completing the process.

Imperfections in forging

An expert can consider imperfections to be a defect that may range from traceable ones to those caused by post-forging. In many cases, defects are defined as certain imperfections exceeding some limits. That said, some imperfections may not even get classified as defects. This is because they are slightly smaller than the allowances found in applicable specifications.

Then there are differences allowed on forging surfaces. They also vary depending on the type of material subjected to forging. This area needs a lot of attention. In particular, attention should focus on remedial measures to reduce the rate of rejection in forging processes.

1. Additional forging defects include
2. Unfilled sections
3. Scale pits
4. Flakes
5. Residual stresses in the metal
6. A shift in die

Determining the extent of the defect in metal forging

First note, to determine the extent of defect, the result should indicate the company’s rejection rate. Usually, on the positive side, over 5% of the productions are made every month. Some of the common defects include quench cracks, scales, lapping, and mismatch.

There is a need to reduce the rejection rates that come with high defects. To do this, you need to know the proper remedial actions to use. They include coating and venting to help prevent the underfilling of a given metal type and the software simulation. That way, it becomes easy to determine the actual material flow of the processes.

Remedial actions for forging defects

Manufacturers can use several remedial methods to solve forging defects. But the Six-Sigma is one of the best set of techniques in the industry. Developed by the famous Motorola, the process addresses defects’ causative agents while guaranteeing the desired results. It helps improve the quality of metal forged and the processing period.

The enhanced approach delivers productive results, profitability, in addition to quality improvement. These are based on the high-value method. Besides, Six-Sigma is adaptable by several companies, given its proven benefits in reducing the cost of production for small scale industries.

The Greek letter represents the deviation between various process means and their nearest specifications designated in sigma units. The method is used to determine the actual defects in metal forging while finding solutions for them.

Final Thoughts

Defects are imperfections. They are common in various manufacturing processes, such as casting. In forging, defects can be caused by the processes involved and the limitations of the operators. But there is always a solution to every flaw. That is what every manufacturer should focus on establishing.

When it comes to making model trees, a certain amount of time is consumed in the process. While some can take between 5 to 10 minutes to complete, offers may require 4 to 5 hours. At the end of the day, knowing how to make tree models for architecture is essential. Why? Because every layout needs about 50 to 100 of it to attain a populated look.

This article shows the standard method of making small model trees for any layout of your choice!

How to Make Small Model Trees

Step 1: Making the Foliage

When making the foliage, you need to get a material that you can easily turn into a crown-like form. This crown will help you hold the tree in shape since it may not have branches. One material that can fit this purpose is a bathroom or kitchen sponge preferably a deep green one.

Using scissors or any other sharp object, cut and carve the sponge into your preferred tree shape. If you’re confused about what to do, look at the natural trees in your surroundings; then pick an inspiration.

Note, you may not get the cut perfectly right if you’re trying for the first time. But with continuous efforts, it gets better. For a smoother appearance, use a tweezer and take out the small pieces that are straying.

Step 2: Making the Trunk

Creating the trunk is quite easy. All you need to do is find slightly tapered twigs with collars. This will be used to create the impression of broken shoots of the tree. Remember to cut the twig just beneath the collar, and glue it to the tree that you’ve created. This should wear a similar look with natural trees like Birch, sycamore, oak, hornbeam, etc.

If you have intentions of showing the main trunk in the tree you’re making, then this technique is great!. But If it’s a low-branch tree with a much visible appearance, twigs with offshoots would be the best option.

Step 3: Finishing

Finish off your model tree by dabbing deeper shades of an acrylic green color or pain in secluded areas of the sponge. To create an illusion of visible leaves, apply hair spray on the sponge and then spread a small quantity of fine green on them.

Step 4: Plant It

The planting is the last part of the making of model trees. You can choose to create small holes In the trunk. Take a PVA glue for wood, and drop them on the base, push the trunk in. To avoid it getting spoilt, support it for a while until the PVA glue finally sets.

Conclusions

This guide takes you through the simple, quick steps to making model trees. With the information contained above, making small model trees will become an easy hurdle to cross. For a first-timer, it may take you a lot of time to get the tree right. But then, you need to keep practicing until you can whip one in a couple of seconds!

Whether thick or thin, cutting metal is a job that requires a lot of precision. It is also a job that requires making big decisions. One of them is choosing the type of cutting machines you will use. One of such machines is the CNC gas cutting machine.

In this article, you are going to learn more about the CNC gas cutting machines. This article is also going to discuss the various types of gases you should use with the CNC gas cutting machines.

If you’re ready, it’s time to dive in!

Understanding the CNC gas cutting machines

The process of using the CNC gas-cutting machines is often referred to as oxyfuel cutting. In other words, this process is all about the interaction between oxygen and metal. Once this happened, the result will likely be iron oxide.

The oxyfuel process can either be controlled or being rapid. Once the area meant to be severed has been cut, then oxygen will have to be directed to it in a clear steady stream.

It is worthy of note to mention that the gas cutting machines include both plasma and flame cutting machines. The main difference between both types of processes is that one relies purely on oxygen while the other relies more on electric arcs.

What type of gas is used on CNC gas-cutting machines?

This process is versatile when it comes to the use of gases. Most gas-cutting machines can use gases such as propane, MAPP, acetylene, or natural gas)

The cutting speed and performance is influenced by the type of gas being used. Also, the nozzle used for gas can affect the performance of the entire process. It might be a good idea to keep one eye on the nozzle.

If you are looking for a really high flame, then you should probably use acetylene gas. It can rise to about 3,160 degrees when used at its full potential.

Most people or companies use MAPP when they have to perform an underwater cutting. This is especially helpful if you have to cut under deep waters.

If you want to use natural gas, you have to prepare for some of its drawbacks. One of them is that it has the lowest temperature of all the other gases. Its temperature can only rise to about 2,770. It is also the lowest when it comes to piercing.

Should you buy a gas-cutting machine?

So, how do you know if you need to get a gas-cutting machine? Well, you have to do your research. If you have to cut really thick metals, then this is probably the machine for you.

Most gas-cutting machines will not need to use much power supplies. This ensures that you are not trapped to the whims of power supply. This is probably one of the reasons why gas cutting machines are considered to be very appealing.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! Understanding everything about gas-cutting machines will ensure that you make the right decision for yourself and your shop.

If you have been in the printing press business for at least one decade now, you will have noticed that the gravure printing style is one of the favorites. The method isn’t chosen by expert printers simply because it is cost-effective but also because the process is straightforward and requires less effort.

If you are new to gravure printing, you might be interested in finding out what the characteristics are. In thing article, you will see the most prevalent characteristics of the gravure printing process. This article will also show you some of the benefits and some of the downsides of the printing method.

What is gravure printing?

Gravure printing is a method of printing used by the printing press to etch images on substrates like fiber, wood, and others. Gravure printing is done by etching an image on the gravure printing cylinders using cells. The cells on the cylinder are dipped in ink, while the other parts of the cylinder are cleaned to ensure that they don’t stain the substrate.

The characteristics of the gravure printing process

The following are some of the characteristics of the gravure printing process. If you had been using the process, you should be aware of some or all of these by now:

1. High quality

Anyone who has used gravure as a printing method knows that the level of line clarity and richness on layers are incomparable. The printing method uses a lot of ink and offers convex graphics that offers a great feel.

2. Applicable for several surfaces

There are very few limits to what you can print on with gravure printing. The printing process can be done on surfaces like plastic, wood, fiber, paper, aluminum foil, textile materials, and several others. It even works best on foldable, stretchable, and contractible materials.

3. Best for mass printing

One of the reasons why gravure printing is more preferred to other printing methods is because of its ability to carry out lots of tasks in the long run. If you are into printing large quantities, this is the printing method you should be getting into.

4. The machine is durable

You can’t take away durability from the gravure printing process. This is one of the many reasons why the gravure printing process is majorly used for long term printing jobs. The spare parts are strong and are easy to find in the market. They will also not cost you so much to repair. From setting up to the entire printing process, you will find it very straightforward.

5. Almost completely automated

You have only very little to do once you are all set up. The gravure printing process does most of the work for you.

Gravure printing also has some downsides, like not being suitable for short-term printing jobs. Not that you cannot use it but because it would consume a lot of ink.

Conclusion

Gravure printing is a trending printing method that every printing press should focus their energy on because it offers more advantages than disadvantages.