While traveling to the Chicagoland area for SME's RAPID Expo, I'd like to personally invite you to tour our facility. This Year, Met-L-Flo is an SME Tour Site on May 11. If you're unable to join, please let us know and we will accommodate your schedule! Carl Dekker dekker@met-l-flo.com |
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Industry News: ASTM Committee F42 |
 The ASTM recently formed Committee F42 on Standards for Additive Manufacturing. The first vote elected the following people to serve as Main Committee Officers:
- Brent Stucker (Chair)
Utah State University
- Carl Dekker (Vice Chair)
Met-L-Flo
- Connie Phillips (Membership Secretary)
NCMS
- Richard Hague (Recording Secretary)
Loughborough University
The next meeting is scheduled for May 27-28. If you want to get involved, contact Carl Dekker: dekker@met-l-flo.com or 800-MET-L-FLO. |
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Technology Update: Materials |
 Ultem / Stratasys
Flame Retardant, High-Performance Thermoplastic for FORTUS 3D Production Systems
PEEK / Victrex & EOS Chemical & Radiation Resistant, High-Performance Polymer for EOSINT P 800 Systems DuraForm PP 100 / 3D Systems
Durable, Polypropylene for use with all Sinterstation Pro and Sinterstatin HiQ series SLS Systems
The performance characteristics of these products may vary according to application and actual manufacturers' data sheets; however, it's an extremely exciting time for this forward thinking industry!
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Case Study: Metal Prototypes |
 Direct Digital ManufacturingThe best application for DDM products are those with complex geometries. Direct Metal systems enable metal parts to be made very quickly. This includes geometries that cannot be made conventionally, or made cost effectively using traditional manufacturing methods.
Investment Casting / QuickCast®
The QuickCast® method allows you to rapidly build highly accurate patterns that bypass tooling for metal parts. All types of parts can be produced with this technique.
Lost Wax Casting and Rubber Plaster
These methods are great for small and preproduction runs. Additive Manufactured patterns are widely used to get high quality parts quickly and in a variety of metals.
Sand Casting
Sand casting is a very good process that can use Additive Manufactured patterns to accelerate the production process.
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Of Special Interest: Part Finishing |
 Finishing RP Parts Training presented by RapidTech and Saddleback College at the 2009 3DS Users Group Conference captured the attendees attention. If you didn't get a chance to participate, here's a few things to keep in mind when you request finishing levels:
- Engineering or Basic Finish
Order an engineering finish when you simply need to review form and function. Most surfaces will remain unfinished with exception of support removal.
- Appearance/Mold Ready Finish
An appearance/mold ready finish is for when your prototype will be viewed by others or used for producing tooling. The part will be sanded smooth on all surfaces and painted for appearance purposes.
- Keep Your Audience In Mind
Order the right finish at the right time so you don't pay for what you don't need! Speak with your Account Manager to learn more about these and other higher grade finishes available. |
