[3D Printing Applications] Four Practical Applications of Cura: Super Versatile for Industrial Parts!

【3D Printing Applications】Four Practical Cura Applications: Industrial Parts Super Utilized!

Make good use of Cura tips to make industrial parts highly functional. Four applications are revealed that benefit various industries. Maximize your dual extrusion 3D printer to achieve maximum production efficiency:

."Schubert" Industrial Actuator
Gerhard Schubert GmbH is a pioneer in top-loading packaging machines with "TLM technology" (click here to see), producing many automation devices that often require modular and movable industrial parts. These types of objects typically have complex structures and high precision requirements. Taking this movable part as an example, its structure includes four screws and interlocking shafts, all 3D printed in one go using a dual extrusion system.
 
 
After 3D printing, the support structure can be easily dissolved in water without damaging the prototype. Once the water-soluble filament dissolves, the part's surface remains unaffected by the support, preserving the beautiful model body completely and allowing for direct use. This method is suitable for manufacturing and developing various functional products.

."Heineken" Factory Conveyor Belt Parts
The world-renowned Heineken beer company has over 150 production plants globally (click here to see). When producing conveyor belt parts for their factories, they utilized the Ultimaker dual extrusion feature to create the outer and inner layers of the parts using two different colors and materials.


After prolonged conveying, once the outer white nylon material wears out, workers seeing the inner red material know it's time to replace the part! This not only ensures equipment safety but also saves production costs. The inner part of the conveyor belt is red PLA filament, which appears red in Cura, while the outer nylon filament appears white. You can clearly adjust and inspect the filament distribution before 3D printing.
 
 
 
.Jig Material, Combining Hard and Soft
Industrial 3D printed parts need to withstand prolonged pressure and impact while also protecting the transported and processed products. For example, a jig requires a sturdy and durable structure with a flexible inner layer to achieve optimal mechanical functionality. Using a dual extrusion 3D printer to print two materials simultaneously not only saves costs but also completes the print in a single run! 

 
For material selection, high-strength ABS, Tough PLA, or nylon can be used for the rigid outer structure, paired with flexible soft TPU for the inner layer. This ensures durability and prevents damage to products even with prolonged use and contact.


 
.Multi-Color Printing Tool Marking
Ford's factory production lines (click here to see) need to meet diverse demands when producing industrial parts. From assembly, testing, to packaging—three major processes—the production line must operate with high flexibility and quick changeovers while maintaining stable production speed and quality.
 
 
Using adual extrusion 3D printer for multi-color printing, a single tool can have multiple functions such as aligning logos, securing parts, and assembling devices, significantly speeding up maintenance and development work.

 

.Cura's Two Modes: Don't Miss the Details
We have previously introduced the various functions of Ultimaker Cura software (click here to see). Learning the software functions isn't enough; utilizing them effectively brings high efficiency! Highlight the following two display functions:

.X-ray View Mode:
Before slicing, switch to X-ray view mode to clearly see the internal structure of the object. If there are missing parts or erroneous surfaces, the software will automatically display them in red, allowing you to quickly check for model detail issues and catch errors before 3D printing. This can effectively save time and improve work efficiency.
 

.Layer View Mode:
When switched to layer view mode, the 3D model displays four colors, representing Material Color, Feedrate, Layer thickness, and Line Type.

Utilizing the functions within Ultimaker Cura software, combined with an Ultimaker dual extrusion 3D printer, allows for a highly efficient and high-quality product manufacturing process. Did you enjoy this sharing? Contact us now to learn more about Ultimaker series equipment details; we offer more than just 3D printing.

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