mining

The growing adoption of Additive Manufacturing in the mining industry is driven by the imperative to enhance innovation, maintain productivity in demanding conditions, sustain competitiveness, and achieve greater sustainability - discover its full potential below

WHY ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING FOR mining

APPLICATION SPOTLIGHT
In this ever-evolving era of sustainability, efficiency, and adaptability, the mining industry, a symbol of resilience and progress fueling the world's infrastructure and economy, is leveraging innovative technologies to stay competitive and meet its evolving demands
Benefits
- Save Time and Money with DfAM - No Assembly
- Read for Mine Site Development
- Beneficial to the environment, components produced in the process are energy efficient
- Reduce Assembly Time (3 parts to 1)
- Digital Spare Part Inventory
- Localised and on-demand manufacturing
- Deployment ready 3D Printing
- Spares Manufactured in Hours
- Custom Parts
- Driving down the cost of drones
Applications
- Prototype (Test-fit)
- Replacement end-use parts (Functional Strength)
- Jig, fixtures, tooling
- Semi-structural components (brackets, clips)
- Enclosures, housings - heavy duty, electrical
- Battery packs
- Ruggled enclosurers
- Mine site Weather Stations

prototyping with rme

case study video
As a global leader in this field, Russel Mineral Equipment (RME) turned to Markforged for in-house production of strong and accurate prototypes, resulting in time and cost savings while enabling faster delivery of products and services to customers
mining
webinar

3d printing in the mining industry

Leveraging Additive Manufacturing and cloud technology, the mining sector conquers its geographic remoteness, facilitating on-site, efficient production, ensuring a resilient supply chain, and advancing high-strength applications across MRO and end-use parts, with this session offering insights into digtial solutions for supply chain concerns, market dynamics, practical case studies, and future-focused strategies

watch webinar here
2nd Generation Remote Operator Console | Wallis Drilling
application spotlight
The 2nd Generation Remote Operator Console connects wirelessly to Wallis Drilling's W300RC and W400RC drill rigs and allows control and monitoring of all functions on the drill.

The 1st generation console weighed approximately 27 kg and was constructed primarily from machined and fabricated aluminium components. When designing the 2nd generation console, the aim was to reduce weight below 20 kg without compromising functionality or ergonomics. In the end, Wallis Drilling managed to shave off 10 kg, with the console weight 16.5 kg. This was achieved by reworking the layout, some changes to eletronic devices, but primarily through the use of 3D printed components.

Majority of the 1st generation console's parts would be aluminium, sourced either as bar stock or via water-cutters (where possible to provide more economical starting shapes). Machining time would be a couple of weeks and cost for each of these parts would range from AUD $100s to $1,000s each. An additional finishing process (such as anodising) would also be required.
Time and Cost Savings
BATTERY HOUSING
Ends: 2h 7m | $7.13 USD
Handle: 35m | $2.02 USD

BATTERY RECEPTACLE
Lower Housing: 13h 36m | $71.79 USD
Upper Housing: 21h 29m | $95.84 USD
Battery Retainer Clip: 45m | $0.81 USD

PLUG HOUSING
3h 30m | $12.55 USD

PLUG SPACER
1h 10m | $1.98 USD
FEET
3h 43m | $15.19 USD (each, 2 required)

ANTENNA HOUSING/HMI MOUNT
12h 21m | $58.56 USD

WIRELESS TRANSMITTER HOUSING
Housing: 13h 30m | $26.62 USD
Spacer: 33m | $1.20 USD

HANDWHEEL
Handwheel: 3h 9m | $7.47 USD
Cap: 1h 20m | $3.66 USD
Spacer: 32m | $1.04 USD (each, 2 required)

cadds group partners with core additive and markforged

press release
CADDS Group, a leading name in the mining industry, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with Core Additive and Markforged, the pioneers in industrial 3D printing technology. This collaboration expands CADDS Group's ongoing commitment to embracing innovative solutions while contributing to a more sustainable future within the mining sector.
read press release here
MARKFORGED MINING BLOG

case study: nieka systems

Neika Systems creates sample preparation equipment that enables their customers in the mining and cement production industries to analyze and ensure quality in their manufacturing processes. Their automated machines heat up ore or cement samples along with fusion flux to temperatures of up to 1000°C, and then cool them down to room temperature to produce glass discs. The company previously outsourced Inconel crucible clips to third parties, but the costs started to add up. While Inconel 625 was the perfect material for the crucible clips, the high costs and long lead times led Nieka to look for a solution elsewhere.

Nieka turned to the Metal X system to reduce costs, and have now reduced their lead time from four weeks to four days. The team has been able to seamlessly implement design changes and improve the quality of their clips, which can withstand repeated and rapid temperature cycles. Nieka Systems has saved roughly $108,000 CAD (~$80,000 USD) within a year, and has reduced lead times from four weeks to four days.

Markforged’s Metal X system offers some of the most groundbreaking materials in 3D printing, including 17-4 PH Stainless Steel, A2 Tool Steel, D2 Tool Steel, H13 Tool Steel, and now Inconel 625. Reach out to Markforged to learn more about how Inconel 625 can transform your manufacturing processes and your product.

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read original blog here
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