Jabil Inc. (St. Petersburg, FL) said it’s establishing a global network of 3D printing facilities as the company expands its additive manufacturing business. The manufacturer said the Jabil Additive Manufacturing Network consists of about 100 3D printing machines in six countries. “Jabil has been dabbling in additive manufacturing for a decade. We haven’t really thought Read More
North Dakota State University Engineering Team Wins 3M’s Disruptive Design Challenge
College students demonstrated their “stick-to-it-iveness” at a recent competition in St. Paul, MN. Four universities—Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison and North Dakota State University (NDSU)—competed in the inaugural 3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Disruptive Design Challenge (DDC) at 3M’s headquarters (St. Paul, MN), Read More
Lightweight Auto Frame Designed for Replica Cars
Frame is based on a 1960s Corvette frame but has lighter materials, designed to include improvements DETROIT – New meets classic. A modern lightweight vehicle frame has been developed for builders of replica classic cars. The frame is comprised of aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber and advanced high strength steel. It matches the body frame of the 1963-1967 Corvette, also Read More
Metal AM Class is in Session at Morf3D
In the near absence of academic programs to teach undergraduate engineering students additive manufacturing, a California-based startup has stepped in to help fill the void through internships. Morf3D (El Segundo, CA), suppliers of metal parts-based aerospace hardware, has trained close to 20 engineering students from nearby universities since the business started in 2014, Read More
Process Reliability: The Springboard to Efficiency
I’m among the first to dive into the latest manufacturing innovations and see how they can improve our customers’ operations. Yet, I’m also among the first to advise them to pause and ensure that the fundamentals of their manufacturing processes are in place before adding something new into the complex mix of functionality and desired outcomes. If the basic elements aren’t Read More
Cutting Strategies for Airframe Components
Machining aerospace materials is a challenging task. Not only are machining operations tightly controlled, a wide variety of workpiece materials are employed, including aluminum, titanium, and carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs). The following is a brief guide to cutting tool options for successful machining of airframe components. All of the tools referenced are Read More