Part Buyers Authority Issue #1

14 PART BUYERS A U T H R I T Y Contact: JACK LAUGLE [email protected] SAVE TIME 3D Metal Printing significantly streamlines traditional methods. It brings design and innovation to the forefront. Metal additive manufacturing allows metal parts to be built without the need for traditional tooling and with few limitations in geometry. Modifications and redesigns are part of the designing process, but this method allows engineers to have creative freedom during the production process, saving time and money. SAVE WEIGHT 3D Metal Printing means freedom from the normal manufacturing constraints. Parts can be easily made hollow or filled with lightweight but strong lattice work. Parts are built with only as much material as needed to support the mechanical and strength requirements, leading to lighter-weight finished pieces and reductions in material consumption. SAVE MONEY The old adage is that “time is money.” Shorter time between design and manufacturing, faster iteration of part designs, and reduction in startup delays all translate directly into significant savings. Combine that with lower material usage and less infrastructure investment. This is a recipe for massive cost reductions over the long term. There are a lot of advanced manufacturing methods entering the market from CAD and CAM equipment, to advanced automation in producing castings, core boxes, and finished machined castings. All of these newer technologies complement and make a traditional foundry able to reduce your overall tooling costs and getting your high quality complex parts to market faster. Newer technologies are being deployed in our foundry every year. How to know the capabilities of your foundry? That’s simple, just do an on-site visit. Today’s foundries are a far cry from foundries of years past. As an early adopter of many of these advanced automation technologies, there is a lot to be learned from a tour about the options in the production of your part. The more you know – the more you can specify the best technology for your part, and the more you can save.