Rapid manufacturing is being extensively used through automation and connected manufacturing equipment to rapidly accelerate the manufacturing process and reduce lead times. Using Rapid Manufacturing, large, production of complex near-net-shape parts, in stainless steel or difficult-to-cast metals in significantly reduced time periods has been made possible. PTC has a dictum of ‘Quality, Value & Speed’ to develop process capabilities for manufacture of critical components where speed and quality were of the essence.
An in-house 3D printing centre of excellence is used to do rapid 3D printing of complex net-shape casting patterns for reduced time-to-market for smaller parts.
3D printing techniques are employed for manufacture of tooling for prototyping in order to accelerate timelines, shorten delivery times and provide more accuracy in products.
PTC utilises 7-Axis CNC machining robots with a concept of ‘Virtual Tooling’ to machine patterns out of large polystyrene blocks. This results in precision casting patterns using RapidCAST-ULTRA® technology for single piece finished castings of up to 6,000 kgs in higher alloys.
