If you follow ARC Specialties you may have noticed a trend. We are moving robots out of the factory into the locations where they are needed.
- Post Date: August 25, 2022
Category: Additive Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing, Blog, Education, FANUC Robotics, Houston, Industry, Manufacturing, News, Oil and Gas, Research & Development, Welding
2022 GHMA Facility Tour
I have worked in manufacturing in Houston, Texas for the last 43 years. I can pick up the phone and get advice, equipment, and referrals if I’m ever in a jam. This cooperation is present even among competitors here in Houston. I love this country!
I have benefited from this open, supportive attitude for my entire career. So I always agree to host tours of ARC Specialties to show others how Dave Hebble conducts research in our lab. William Saxton and the other engineers design our machines. How John Tovar and the machinists make the parts. How Esteban Vazquez and the welders fabricate the machines. How Joe Lopez and the technicians assemble these machines. How Kevin Sevcik and the programmers write the code. And finally, how Nicholas Augustine, John Martin, and the other project managers put it all together.
Yesterday, the Greater Houston Manufacturers Association visited ARC Specialties for lunch and a facility tour. They saw robots working on drill ships, sand screen machines that make 100 welds per second, a mobile welding robot that goes and finds work, ultrasonic inspection robots, and additive manufacturing printing 50 pounds of steel per hour!
If you would like a tour, please contact me.
ARC Specialties thrives on problems. Send us yours.
– Dan Allford
- Post Date: August 18, 2022
Additive Manufacturing, Community, Houston, Industry News, News, Research & Development, Robotic, Texas
FIRST FRIDAY: AUGUST 5th 2022
At ARC Specialties we believe its important to share with those around us. That’s the purpose of our monthly First Friday event. It’s an opportunity to join us and share SMILES, KNOWLEDGE, FOOD, & MORE.
- Post Date: August 8, 2022
Additive Manufacturing, Blog, Consumer, Industry, Industry News, Manufacturing, News, Oil and Gas, Podcast, Robotic
The Future of Robotics in a Post-Pandemic World
Because they deal primarily with physical products, anyone in manufacturing knows that the industry as a whole has taken a hit from the effects of the pandemic.
- Post Date: February 3, 2021
Additive Manufacturing, Blog, Collaborative, Construction, Consumer, Houston, Industry, Industry News, Manufacturing, News, Oil and Gas, Plasma Welding, Systems, Welding
Virtual Welding Symposium March 23rd
Over the last 15 plus years, John Stoll has brought together an array of speakers with immense knowledge in the welding industry. On March 23rd, he looks forward to showcasing his 2nd Virtual Welding Symposium with ARC Specialties.
- Post Date: January 26, 2021
Fatigue Life of Additive Manufactured Aluminum
Thanks for the comments & questions regarding Additive Manufacturing (AM) and material properties. Our motto, see below, really is our mission statement. We learn when you send us problems.
- Post Date: May 15, 2020
Additive Manufacturing using High Strength Steel
Additive Manufacturing with High Strength Steel
or Tensile Testing the Texas Way
- Post Date: May 1, 2020
Just Truss Me: Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing
We decided to build a truss to see just how strong Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) built aluminum parts really are. Mike Willey created a truss design and used FEA to estimate that it would support over 1000 lbs. Kevin Sevcik then imported the model into Robotmaster offline programming software to create the robot path. Then using Lincoln Electric R350 Power Wave with Advanced Module running in AC pulse mode Jim Walker built a 5356 aluminum truss using the ARC-06 robot in our laboratory. Total build time was around 3 hours and for an 8 pound part. Finally, we tested the part in our own special Texan way to over 1,200 pounds WITHOUT FAILURE.
Watch the video for the whole story:
ARC Specialties thrives on problems, send us yours!
- Post Date: April 14, 2020
Additive Manufacturing (AM) with Aluminum
We have received requests for aluminum AM parts. Last week we developed the technology to build 3D aluminum parts using a FANUC America Corporation robot and a Lincoln Electric R350 Power Wave with Advanced Module running in AC pulse mode.
As we refined the process parameters we were pleasantly surprised to find that the best results coincided with higher wire and travel speeds. As productivity increased so did build quality. My professor once taught me that a small weld puddle has sufficient surface tension to negate the force of gravity. He was right. We are able to build horizontal just as well as vertical!
After welding & motion control the final piece of the AM puzzle is programming. We are working with Gregory Culp and the Robotmaster team to slice cad models and generate torch path and orientation to build complex 3D parts. Being able to build horizontal complicates programming but greatly expands feature build capacity.
The build parts have passed Liquid Penetrant (LP), side and face bend tests. UTS and YS, R of A and %Elong are typical for 5356 alloys.
If you have an aluminum part you would like to build with AM, contact me.
ARC Specialties thrives on problems, send us yours!
Dan Allford
- Post Date: March 31, 2020
