With the goal of demonstrating that its additive manufacturing technology is not only a solution for industries with stringent requirements, Eplus3D, a machine manufacturer who recently launched the tallest metal Additive Manufacturing machine in its portfolio, is currently exploring the production of objects that we can use on a daily basis.
In this vein, the company has 3D printed a bottle opener – a simple object that demonstrates the potential of 3D printing, Intelligent Design and 3D-Digitizing Technologies when combined.
“The EPLUS 3D key ring bottle opener is designed with the latest Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) technology and Solid Edge. Therefore, it is possible to print parts with only a few supporting structures, thereby reducing the time and cost of post-processing. The small support structure under the corkscrew ensures that the printed parts can be taken out smoothly from the platform. In our case, titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V 23 grade) is used, which is usually used in aerospace and defense, automotive and racing, or medical and dental industries”, the company explains.
Interestingly, this printing requires a minimal support structure in Voxeldance Additive Software. To prepare the data to be printed, EPLUS 3D used VoxelDance Additive to repair and orient the parts, create their supports and nest 79 parts on the build platform. After slicing, use the self-developed incubation software EP-Hatch to create two laser paths during the production process.
Processing it on our Metal Powder Bed Fusion (MPBF)-System EP-M150, this Material can reach:
- Tensile Strength up to 1250 MPa,
- Yield Strength up to 1080 MPa
- Hardness of 36 HRC
- Elongnation of 12 %
- Density of 4,3 g/cm³.
After printing, the parts are removed from the substrate plate by hand and blasted with Aluminumoxide in order to create a homogeneous matte finish on the parts. When using the process loop of intelligent design, additive manufacturing, the development iterations of a product can be dramatically reduced.
The results of this project will enable the company to further enhance other 3D printed products.
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