Revolutionizing Manufacturing: GoEngineer and Velo3D at the Forefront of Additive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, has revolutionized traditional manufacturing processes, sparking interest across various industries. A new approach called "AM-enabled conventional manufacturing" combines the benefits of AM with traditional methods. 

GoEngineer partnered with Velo3D, a renowned player in the 3D printing industry, to leverage their cutting-edge metal 3D printing technology. Together, they are reshaping the manufacturing landscape by enabling the production of high-performance tooling and end-use parts that are lighter, more durable, and tailored to specific requirements.

Pioneers in Additive Manufacturing for Tooling and End-Use Parts

Velo3D's Sapphire metal 3D printer has gained widespread acclaim for its advanced capabilities. The Sapphire printer allows for the production of intricate and high-quality metal parts with exceptional precision, reducing the need for extensive post-processing or additional support structures.

With a deep understanding of design optimization, simulation, and manufacturing processes, GoEngineer amplifies the value of this partnership by empowering manufacturers to harness the full potential of Velo3D's metal 3D printing technology.

The Advantages of AM-enabled Conventional Manufacturing

The integration of AM-enabled conventional manufacturing brings numerous benefits to industries seeking advanced tooling and end-use parts. By combining AM's design flexibility and rapid prototyping capabilities with traditional manufacturing methods, manufacturers can streamline production processes, reduce costs, and accelerate time-to-market.

One significant advantage is the ability to optimize component designs for weight reduction without compromising strength and performance. Velo3D's metal 3D printing technology enables the seamless printing of complex lattice structures and internal channels, reducing the need for post-machining and reduces material waste. This results in lighter components, enhancing overall efficiency and reducing resource consumption.

Furthermore, AM-enabled conventional manufacturing facilitates the on-demand production of spare parts, eliminating the need for costly inventory storage. Manufacturers can respond quickly to customer demands, minimize downtime, and enhance after-sales service.

The partnership between GoEngineer and Velo3D is driving the adoption of AM-enabled conventional manufacturing across industries. By harnessing the power of advanced engineering solutions and state-of-the-art metal 3D printing technology, they empower manufacturers to create innovative designs, enhance product performance, and revolutionize how tooling and end-use parts are manufactured.

Design Freedom and Conformal Cooling

In tooling manufacturing, achieving optimal cooling is critical for accelerating production times and improving part quality. Conformal cooling, made possible by additive manufacturing, offers a groundbreaking solution to overcome limitations in conventional manufacturing methods.

Traditional manufacturing methods face limitations in incorporating intricate cooling channels into tooling designs. Straight-line channels, achieved through drilling or milling, struggle to achieve uniform cooling and dissipate heat effectively, compromising production cycle times and part quality.

Velo3D’s Sapphire 3D printers advanced architecture and unique process parameters enable the production of complex, high-quality parts with internal conformal cooling channels. Combined with their breakthrough technology, these solutions from Velo3D allow for the direct fabrication of cooling channels with organic shapes, conforming precisely to the shape of the tool or part. As a result, heat transfer is significantly improved, ensuring uniform cooling and reducing the risk of defects such as warpage and distortion.

Using advanced software solutions from GoEngineer to conduct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, engineers can optimize tooling designs by strategically placing conformal cooling channels for maximum efficiency. By simulating the fluid flow and thermal behavior of the tooling during the manufacturing process, potential issues can be identified and mitigated before production begins. This holistic approach improves the overall performance and longevity of the tooling, leading to enhanced productivity and cost savings for manufacturers.

Conformal cooling channels produced through AM-enabled conventional manufacturing enable faster and more uniform heat extraction, reducing cycle times and enhancing part quality. Additionally, the ability to create complex internal geometries optimizes material usage, reduces weight, and minimizes the need for post-machining operations. This level of design freedom and improved cooling capabilities drives innovation in tooling manufacturing and delivers significant advantages to industries such as automotive, aerospace, and injection molding.

Lightweighting and Material Optimization

Another key advantage of AM-enabled conventional manufacturing is the ability to optimize part designs for lightweighting and material usage. Traditional manufacturing methods often involve subtractive processes that result in significant material waste and added weight to the final component. In contrast, additive manufacturing allows for the production of intricate geometries with optimized internal structures, reducing weight while maintaining structural integrity.

Velo3D's metal 3D printing technology, in combination with GoEngineer's expertise, enables manufacturers to design and produce lightweight components without compromising strength or functionality. Engineers can create complex lattice structures and organic shapes that maximize strength-to-weight ratios by leveraging topology optimization algorithms and generative design techniques.

Furthermore, AM-enabled conventional manufacturing eliminates the need for the assembly of multiple parts, enabling the production of complex, single-piece components. Consolidating multiple parts into a single design reduces weight and enhances part performance by eliminating potential weak points introduced by assembly processes.

The lightweighting capabilities of additive manufacturing are particularly valuable in industries where weight reduction is critical, such as aerospace and automotive. By using AM-enabled conventional manufacturing, manufacturers can achieve significant weight savings, leading to improved fuel efficiency, increased payload capacity, and enhanced overall performance.

Conclusion

Unlock the benefits of AM-enabled conventional manufacturing by harnessing Velo3D's cutting-edge metal 3D printing technology and GoEngineer's engineering solutions. The integration of design freedom, conformal cooling, lightweighting, and material optimization offers new opportunities to streamline production, improve part quality, and drive innovation across various industries.

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