E-Texturing is a revolution in digital manufacturing

Market Release: Since a few months we’re actively developing e-texturing features on DDM parts. Mainly we add texture (soft gripping, leather texturing, topographical features) on 3D solids and produce these in a Direct Digital way. Instead of having advanced post-processing treatments such as milling/EDM, we simply add it on the surface of the digital model (STL based). Tests have been made on thin walled parts, mould inserts and even on some medical implants. All of them being ready for market release as from now!

e-Texture is one of the latest software solutions of Materialise. The software enables to apply a 3D Texture on a 3D digital model. The uniqueness of e-Texture is that the texture will thus be applied during printing and not after printing, resulting in time and cost savings. Lieve Boeykens, Sales Manager at Materialise says: “In house we can experiment enough with printing plastics, however having no own metal machine, we have to rely on our good relations with Melotte.” Being both partner of the Belgium Solar Team (http://www.solarteam.be/ ), a project was easily defined to print the first model in titanium with a leather texture immediately applied during printing. The pictures shows the first result coming from Melotte’s DDM set-up. The part is thin walled (0,8 mm) and freeform, cost savings are important and most of all, we respect extremely short delivery times and can easily confirm the accuracy by showing the optical comparison. Another good example of what DDM can bring to you!

The proof of the pudding.....

Even at 15°C below zero MElotte's DDM stays HOT!

We would like to wish you all the best for 2009! Keep up the good work and thanks for the great support! Since the Blog has been put live about 840 individual followers have shown interest in our developments!

Product & Process information: Our Direct Digital Manufacturing Department has been very active during the Christmas period. Early December we've installed the new laserspot and we're very excited with the results. The part accuracy and surface finish have improved without compromising on building speed. The wise combination of Layered Manufacturing and Advanced Finishing technologies have proved the concept.

For a customer in the medical market we produce large batches of DDM Titanium parts, grade 5, (picture left). In the past these were produced by lost-wax methods and advanced 5-axis milling. Today the free-form is made by DDM and we only finish the high precision connectors. Melotte agreed on a delivery time of 3 working days. Product prices have dropped by 65%.

The customer decided to review its complete supply chain and to transfer as many product as possible to DDM. The Product engineering department visits Melotte next week in order to organise a smooth transfer.
.
We thank the customer for this fantastick opportunity!

Melotte's DDM Solutions@Euromould 2008

Melotte@Euromould 2008: Last week the World's largest exhibition on Moulding and advanced metal forming processes took place in Frankfurt (GERMANY). Though Melotte did not have an own dedicated booth stand, we're very delighted about the fact that many leading manufacturers (Hard &Software) showed examples of DDM parts made by Melotte. MTT, one of the leading DDM machine manufacturers even presented a newsletter entirely dedicated to Melotte's Direct Digital Manufacturing Solutions. Do not hesitate to ask for a copy of this exiting story via info@melotte.be or by calling our Support Office Desk: +32 11 53.99.40

We would like to thank all these companies for the free exposure and we look forward to continue working with them. We're very exited about the huge interest showed in our product solutions. During the exhibition we've entered into a cooperation on mass customization of high speed propellers for air jet applications. The first prototypes have shown the advantages of DDM, Time-To-Market went down to days instead of weeks.

ll

We're very excited about an agreement for the implementation of new STL based modelling Software provided by an innovative RM Software Development Company.

We will analyse the possibilities of this new Software application and we hope to make substantial progress on support structure integration & design optimisation. MPP did confirm his full support on the machine interface optimisation.

Melotte will further analyse & implement advanced surface treatment processes in order to controle the complete value chain. End of this week we will be presenting a case on hybrid partdesign. Please do not hesitate to ask for detailed information.