To begin with, you first need to understand what a CNC turning process is. Simply put, Computer Numerical Control turning (CNC turning) is a precision machining process that makes use of a CNC machine to work the designated workpiece linearly while turns it to form a cylindrical part. It does this by removing and adding materials to the model.

CNC turning uses machinery lathes to process the trims of the diameter of the workpiece to the desired shape as per the dimension given. It will provide the ready-made part that is expected. Although this is an ancient technique, recent use has made it one of the most high-skilled and complex ways of creating custom components for both metals and materials.

What Should you look for when searching for a CNC Turning Manufacturer

If you are looking to get your CNC turning operations completely sorted, there are some things you should look out for.

Here are the most common ones.

1. Use of Cutting-edge equipment

The first thing you should look out for should be really good equipment and features. A manufacturer should also have all certifications and the six CNC lathes in their possession made by experts such as Haas and Fanuc.

These lathes are also referred to as hybrid machines. They work together, these latest CNC lathes manufactured by countries such as the USA and Japan, respectively.

2. Competitive value

Manufacturers can steadily use CNC turning in conjunction with other techniques like CNC machining techniques, and other finishing techniques. Because of the cheap access to labor, it is easy to get parts at a lower cost while preserving the quality that you want.

So, when choosing a manufacturer, make sure that you do not settle for less.

3. CNC turning with Precision.

Several precision CNC lathes are used to make production versatile and efficient. And the precision CNC equipment used by DDPrototype is constructed to provide accuracy, and consistency that is needed for complex level prototyping.

Secondary milling can also be performed by using tools and CNC lathes. Together they produce a short time of the entire processing parts. With the screw machine used, several real-time devices can create precise CNC turning with maximum engineering efficiency.

Benefits of working with a good Manufacturer

• Innovation

You get to work with companies that have some of the world’s most complex CNC lathes and tools imported from the USA and Japan, along with a dedicated and trained team who can work with those tools.

• Quality

Their factory has passed all required certifications and can make high-quality parts. The good thing about these part is that it is built according to the standard process.

• Cost

Most manufacturers will offer you affordable services that are of really high quality. This ensures that you get the best and still be able to stick to your budget.

Bottom Line

Choosing the right manufacturer for your CNC turning process is key to getting exactly what you want. You should always take it very seriously.

In the industrial and manufacturing industries, reliable experts are entrusted with producing high-quality products through industrial mixers. With the rise in different pressures, tanks, and speeds, mixers are often designed to work efficiently according to their demand in the industrial processes. You will usually lose count of the products that depend on the mixing machines. For that reason, there are several forms of mixing.

Batch mixing for industrial purposes

In this category of mixing, the materials are placed in a mixer. They are then blended for some time. That is, until they are mixed, completely. The next phase of the mixing process would be continuous mixing. In that case, materials are often added to the aqueous substance before rapid stirring begins. Some sessions would involve certain dissimilar methods.

Types of Industrial Mixers

a. Convective blenders

These types of mixers function within a short period of mixing. Industries prefer this kind of blender because it operates by working faster than other blenders. Even so, it is possible to diffuse operations. Physically, these mixers are firm in nature and come with a resolute shelf and an impeller. The tool rotates at a certain speed. So does the paddle and plow. Mixers classified under the category include ribbon blenders, lab stirrer mixer vertical, and paddle screw blenders. They usually transmit heat through motion.

b. Planetary mixers

A planet mixer is often used in the kitchen. It has a central mixing wand that rotates around a bowl, which happens to be stationary. You can usually change the attachment of the rod as required to accommodate the mixing goals easily.

This machine can also be helpful in mixing various substances and not just the dough. The bowl is often easily detached. It can also move quickly when the mixing is complete. The upright machines are known to be smaller in nature. Therefore, if you have a small space, the planetary mixer should be the ideal option for you.

One major drawback of using a planetary mixer is that the mixing level between the top and the bottom part of the bowel may be uneven. So, when using the machine for dough, some areas will be underdeveloped.

c. Spiral mixers

A spiral mixer is one of the popular types in the market. It is utilized in multiple settings because of the flexibility it has. It is also helpful in mixing dough efficiently with little to no friction, usually within the rotating bowl. The bowl will move around some spiral-like blade. The option therein comes in a broad range of different sizes that fit into target dough outputs. Besides, a spiral mixer utilizes less electricity compared to a horizontal unit.

Final Thoughts

So which mixer would you instead settle for? You should assess all your mixing needs before making that decision. If speed is the most critical attribute in this case, then you need to consider it. If the volume is the vital element, you need to weigh in on it. When appropriately identified, you are better placed to determine the ideal type of mixer and how it will work to your advantage.

The fidelity of a prototype refers to how closely the prototype resembles the end product. The different types of fidelity vary in areas such as interactivity, visual design, and content. A 3D prototyping service creates a product whose fidelity is usually based on the prototyping goals, the complete design, and the resources available. In this write-up, we discuss the basics of the fidelity of a prototype.

The Basics of the Fidelity of a Prototype

Prototypes don’t have to resemble the final product. The goal that the product designer wants to achieve determines the level of accuracy of the prototype. Rapid prototypes can get classified into two; low-fidelity and high-fidelity. We discuss both types, their characteristics, merits and demerits, and the techniques applied in each.

1. Low-Fidelity Prototyping

They are quick and straightforward to create. There is a clear distinction between the prototype and the final product produced. Their primary role is to check and test how the product functions. Its basic characteristics are visual design, whereby only a few attributes concerning the end product are brought forth. Examples include the shape and visual hierarchy.

Also, interactivity is another characteristic that involves simulation by a design expert who manually alters the design. Connected wireframes can also be used to develop the prototype. Its content contains many elements, but only the essential ones are included in the prototype.

Merits

• Low-fidelity prototyping is highly affordable. It makes it easily accessible to product owners at a low cost.
• Several people can collaborate on a particular design process to create something unique. Group work is welcomed and accepted as no special skills are needed. Both designers and non-designers are free to participate in the formulation of ideas.
• Creating this prototype can take 5-10 minutes, which is fast; thus, the team working on it can spend more time on productivity and checking out other ideas.

Demerits

Uncertainty is significant since you don’t know what to do or not to do. The user testing outcome is limited; hence a lot of imagination is needed. Interactivity is also limited.

Techniques Used in Low-Fidelity Prototyping

The two primary techniques used are paper prototyping which helps designers develop a digital product interface without software. The other is clickable wireframes, a visual representation of an object page used to organize the page’s elements.

2. High-Fidelity Prototyping

The prototypes produce entirely similar to the final products. The designers are usually sure about what they are developing and are approved by stakeholders. Its visual design appears real and very detailed, unlike low-fidelity prototyping. The spacing and graphics mimic an actual app. The content used on the prototype is usually actual, or they differ slightly from what appears on the final product. Also, their interaction is realistic; hence it’s hard to differentiate them from the end design.

Merits

• Stakeholders and clients get a clear idea or understanding of how the product is supposed to do.
• Users behave naturally when interacting with the products as they seem real. This gives way to meaningful feedback from them during the usability test.

Demerits

High-fidelity prototypes are of good quality and have more significant benefits than low-fidelity prototypes. The result of this is a high cost.

Techniques Used in High-Fidelity Prototyping

The two popular techniques are a digital prototype that is developed by special tools and coded prototypes. Digital prototypes use specialized software to create interactive effects and advanced animation. Coded prototypes are almost similar to the end product.

Conclusion

Rapid prototyping is a considerable part of your design process. Knowing your goals helps you choose the most effective prototyping method; hence, your prototype’s accuracy is determined.

What is closed forging? This is a manufacturing and metal shaping process that is done at room temperature or below the temperature of the metal’s recrystallization. It involves inserting a bar stock of metal into a die and squeezed by a second die to create a metal into the intended configuration.

Well, it’s not as simple as it looks. There are several cold forging process steps involved. But a lot of manufacturers like the process because it’s an economical and efficient way of deforming metals to produce high metal parts at low costs.

Forging is done with three temperatures- cold, hot, and warm. Unlike hot and warm forging, cold forging deforms the bar stock and shapes it via compressive forces. These metal workpieces are hammered, pounded, and bent into dies to achieve the final shape.

Do you want to know more about the cold forging process? Keep reading.

Steps involved in the cold forging process

1. Lubrication:

This is the first stage of any cold forging process. Before forging, manufacturers treat the metal workpiece with a lubricant to avoid it sticking to the die and to maintain its coolness when it starts forming

2. Insertion:

The next stage is the insertion stage. The metal is kept on a die that has the supposed shape of the final parts. The die has two sections- one is under the metal workpiece, while the other is attached to the hammer. The hammer is the upper part, so it strikes the metal, produces the force, and deforms it to the intended shape.

3. Stroke: 

The stroke can be gotten by three mechanisms- mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic. Each mechanism drives the shaft downwards with great force to produce the intended shape. This process can happen so fast. Sometimes, the hammer may drop consecutively to produce the intended shape and contour.

4. Flash:

This is excess metal around the die. It protrudes from the metal body as a thin plate, just at the intersection where the dies meet. It is also eliminated during trimming. Now, you may be saying that the flash isn’t important since it will be trimmed off anyway. No. The flash is essential because it compels the metal to fill the die completely. It restricts metal flow, thus creating a perfect impression.

5. Removing parts:

Now, this step depends on the type of process. Most modern manufacturers automate this process using a robotic hand or a conveyor. This measure saves cost when it comes to material handling.

Now that you know the steps involved in cold forging, what are the benefits involved? Why can’t manufacturers go for warm or hot forging instead? What do they gain by using this process?

Let’s find out

Importance of cold forging

There are several benefits of cold forging, but a few will be outlined here- it is very affordable when you consider the pre-processing, temperature, and finishing of other forging processes, it is environmentally friendly, produces faster, enhanced quality, long die life, removes negative reactions, has a high rate of production output, and several economic benefits.

In recent times, the manufacturing industry has adopted various innovative approaches to enhance the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing. Amongst these innovative approaches is computer numerical control (CNC) milling. Most CNC milling services have helped to enhance the mass production of work-piece.

In Case you’re wondering, CNC milling is a method used in the manufacturing process which uses computer software to control all machining tools present. This technology can be adopted and used for performing a lot of complex manufacturing process, amongst which includes routing, milling, grinding, turning, lathing and punching.

As a manufacturer, understanding the good sides and the downsides of this modern technological operation is essential. To find out more, stick to this guide!

Upsides of Adopting CNC Milling machine

Below, are the several benefits attached go using CNC milling machines for your productions:

1. CNC milling helps in the reduction of overall expenses with fewer personnel:

Fewer technicians are needed for operations and oversight as a result of computer software controls of the machinery.

2. It’s beginner-friendly

Skills needed for operating the CNC milling cycle are relatively low and easy to acquire with basic training compared to the skill required by manual operators.

3. Increase in productivity as a result of continuous use

Compared to manual labor, CNC machinery can work over time without stopping. This greatly increases productivity.

4. Makes complex tasks achievable

The CNC mills technology uses computer precision to go beyond the limitations of manual capabilities thereby making it possible for complex and intricate operations to be achieved.

5. Precision, Consistency, and Redundancy

With the use of the CNC milling machine, the program needs only one run and the system perfectly replicates that design, for any order quantity without the same quality.

6. It allows mass production

The CNC mills software can be easily reprogrammed to produce different parts. This allows operations to run and keep up with high demands.

Downsides of Adopting CNC Milling

Now that you’ve seen the advantages of CNC milling, it’s important that you also understand a few of the disadvantages that come with this manufacturing approach. Let’s have a look at them below:

1. Justlike every other technology, the cost of the initial implementation of CNC mills is more expensive compared to adopting other approaches. However, since CNC milling has become the standard, supply is getting high which will eventually result in reducing costs.
2. WithCNC mills taking over the industrial operations unit, this could eventually lead to loss of long-physical skills. So, a lot of jobs will be lost.
3. Withprocesses leveraging automation, comes a reduction in the need for manpower. Fewer laborers will be hired and it will lead to an increasedrate of unemployment.

Conclusion

In all, the upsides of CNC mills far outweighs the downside. Due to the introduction and adoption of new technologies, several adjustments are being made to meet new trends. Automation and 3D printing continue to advance to meet the demands of customers.

If you are involved in plastic injection manufacturing, you probably know the need for drying plastic granules or pellets before processing. You need different dryers for injection molding to ensure you produce high-quality parts for your customers.

With different resin dryers available on the market, it becomes challenging to get the right one for you. Remember that a hopper dryer is important plastic auxiliary equipment. Therefore, you may need to consider the different types of dryers for injection molding to make the right decision.

Hot Air Dryer

This type of dryer provides an economical means of drying your plastic resin. The dryers use the heated ambient air to get rid of moisture from the material. These dryers are suitable for drying plastic materials that do not have an affinity for moisture. Plastics without affinity to moisture are known as non-hygroscopic. In this case, the moisture is removed from the surface of a pellet.

With the hygroscopic resin, the flow of hot air changes pressures the pressure outside and inside of the pellet. As the pellet balances the pressure, the moisture gets out of the pellet to the surface until it attains the balance with the dry air.

Compressed Air Dryer

Another common dryer for injection molding that has similar parts like the hot air dryer. For instance, they both have the hopper, controller, and heater. The compressed air utilizes air from the plant’s processing unit. You should note that compressed air has less moisture than what is regarded to be normal at the atmospheric pressure. In fact, the dryer is suitable for different molding applications.

Although it seems to be an energy-efficient and simple process, the dryer’s energy needs are like those of the desiccant system. Sometimes you may have to integrate a compressor because it comes in a lot of air.

Dehumidifying Dryers

This type of dryer is designed to remove moisture from plastic material before it is processed. In this case, the air gets through the desiccant bed to ensure it is extremely dry. Even after the air becomes dry, it gets heated to a particular temperature before being fed into the hopper. The hot air draws moisture from the material. These dryers are widely used because of their efficiency and durability. However, you have to ensure the desiccant beads are protected.

Honeycomb Dryer

This type of dryer has a canister that can send dry air into the hopper to provide a uniform flow of dry air. The dryers can operate at an optimal level at the dew point. However, they become less effective as desiccant material gets saturated with moisture. Moreover, the effectiveness is also reduced by moisture-filled air that is re-circulated into the system. In rare cases, the system can add moisture to the material.

Vacuum Dryers

These types of dryers are known to increase the rate of drying the plastic material. They help extract the moisture and leave it in a condition to be extruded or molded. The vacuum dryers can dry the material quickly. When you compare this method to others, it is cost-effective and it improves the performance of your injection molded parts.

Since the world exploded with various inventions, things have just never been the same. At the center of all these inventions and advancements in the manufacturing industry. From rapid manufacturing to 3D printing, the race to be at the top has heightened over the years.

For most people, spotting the difference between the concepts has also been a challenge. One such challenge is with 3D printing and rapid manufacturing. Are they the same thing? Or is there a difference which we have missed?

In this article, we’ll look at both concepts and see if we can spot some differences.

Understanding 3D Printing

Simply put, this is the entire process of manufacturing that takes place digitally. The end result of 3D printing is bringing the product that has been modeled into existence. The fabrication of any material during this procedure is done using a nozzle or head.

3D printing is fundamentally different from rapid manufacturing. Here’s why.

Understanding Rapid Manufacturing

The word “rapid” gives it all away in my opinion. It simply refers to a quicker way of manufacturing products. It is a form of additive manufacturing that makes it faster and more accurate. Rapid manufacturing is usually made possible through the use of 3D printers and similar technology.

While these are the easiest differences between both concepts, there are yet even others. Let’s consider some of them.

The price

Rapid manufacturing and 3D printing are going to need substantially different amounts of cash to pull off. If you are in the manufacturing industry, you’d quickly realize that rapid manufacturing is leagues ahead of 3D printing when it comes to costs.

This can be explained by the machine costs and other maintenance that has to be regularly carried out. Most 3D printing will usually cost you $1000-3000 every year in maintenance. Rapid manufacturing, on the other hand, can easily cost you $10,000.

The choices of material available

Here’s another vital difference. The material used by both processes is worlds apart. For 3D printing, the material usually used include plastic and PVC. For rapid manufacturing, there is an endless list of materials that can be used.

The bottom line is that raid manufacturing is definitely more flexible than 3D printing.

Other things such as the precision and accuracy of both processes are largely different. You can expect more accuracy and detail with rapid manufacturing. It’s just a lot broader than 3D printing.

So what should I do next?

If you wanted to find out the difference for your business, then this is the right time to act. If you are interested in rapid manufacturing, then you should make time to do research.

Getting the right items can make a lot of difference in how your products turn out in the future. So make a wise choice.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! That’s the difference between rapid manufacturing and 3D printing. You can be sure that you’ll have absolutely no confusion from now on. We hope this has a positive impact on your business.