Hurco files patent on 3D adapter for CNC milling machine
- Details
- July 19, 2014
Hurco is the latest company in the metalworking industry to get into the additive manufacturing business. On July 15, the company filed a US patent application for a new technology that will convert a CNC milling machine into a 3D printer for additvie manufacturing applications.
"We designed an additive manufacturing adapter that, in combination with proprietary Hurco control software, effectively turns a CNC milling machine into a 3D printer," says Gregory Volovic, president of Hurco Companies Inc. "Hurco has a long history of inventing technology that allows our customers to be more productive and profitable. This is yet another Hurco innovation making advanced technology accessible to a broad range of customers. With this new additive manufacturing capability, users may go from print to plastic prototype to finished metal part on one machine without repeated set-ups and without multiple prototyping utilizing costly metals and raw material."
The new technology will allow Hurco machine tools to achieve 3D printing directly on the machine without the need for a separate 3D printer. The company says it is working on expanding its invention to include other additive manufacturing processes.
"We recently filed a utility patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office describing and claiming a variety of novel features of our 3D printing technology. Our control technology will provide our customers speed and ease of use in performing CNC-based, 3D printing and prototyping. With our new next generation control technology debuting at the International Machine Tool Show in Chicago later this year, Hurco is very excited to be introducing not only a new look for our products and our new CNC machine control, but also innovative capabilities not found on other CNC machines," explains Volovic.