Two years on from the implementation of CNC manufacturing solutions from leading metrology provider MSP, the production of 3D printed products at Polar Technology continues to be one of our success stories.

In early 2022, we enlisted MSP’s support to increase productivity, reduce setup time and halve the machining cycle. The initial challenge had stemmed from the nature of additive manufacturing, with distortion often occurring within the build process and therefore requiring finish machining on a CNC machine to bring the part into tolerance. This is difficult however, as a precise alignment is needed to cut the part accurately, something which is hard to achieve when it is unknown how the part has changed in the build process. 

The solution was to install MSP’s NC-PartLocator on our Mazak Variaxis i-600 CNC Machine. This automates the part setup process by calculating precise alignments for each machining operation, removing the need for any manual alignment and multiple machining steps. The software presents the machine operator with detailed graphic information at every stage of the process to ensure accuracy throughout.

We also utilised MSP’s NC-Checker, which produces automatic reports on the performance and accuracy of the machine tool, before any machining begins, which is crucial to ensure no machine errors will ripple down to the final additive parts.

The Variaxis i-600 offers 5-axis capability, enabling high-accuracy, high-speed machining of multiple surfaces. This machine, coupled with MSP’s software, has transformed our production of 3D printed products, leading to huge improvements in reliability, efficiency and consistency.

Thomas Rogers, Machine Shop Manager, said: “The knowledge we have gained over the past few years has helped us understand the challenges of machining additive products. We utilise the MSP software to optimise fixturing and part-setting. This has led to new and exciting projects for the business, including creating high-precision, intricate development parts for an aerospace supplier that were chosen over parts produced by their approved R&D lab.

“Our reliable and high-quality machining solution, along with inhouse additive manufacturing and fabrication departments, can offer a complete and robust product from design inception to final production.”

Aidan Wigham, MSP Technical Account Manager said: “At MSP it's our goal to enable our customers to achieve right-first-time production of high value and complex parts. It's impressive to see the results being realised by Polar Technology - their drive for innovation makes for an exciting partnership.”

For more information on our full machining capabilities, please click here: Capabilities (sstubetechnology.com)

For more information on MSP’s products, click here: Metrology for the CNC Manufacturing Industry (mspltd.com)