St. Paul, MN (January 4, 2018) —— Middle school students learned first-hand about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers from the people who work in them. More than a dozen local professionals, including Tom Houle, Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc. LUMEX Director, took part in a STEM event at Stillwater Middle School.
Local businesses and organizations provided hands-on, interactive activities for students. Students were exposed to creative and problem-solving situations with the guide of STEM mentors.
“This event was a fun and quick way to provide exposure to many STEM careers in their own school. Thank you to Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc. for participating,” said a Stillwater Middle School Spokesperson.
Houle shared details about Matsuura’s cutting-edge technology, the Matsuura LUMEX Series. The Matsuura LUMEX Series is a powder bed metal AM platform with subtractive capability. The Matsuura LUMEX Series combines selective laser sintering (SLS) along with high speed milling (HSM) commonly called Hybrid AM.
“Tom helped students make the connection of how additive manufacturing is used in industry and boosted their interest in STEM careers. He demonstrated components produced from powder on Matsuura’s LUMEX machines. They enjoyed learning about the Matsuura LUMEX powder bed metal AM platform with subtractive capability,” said Christopher Fahey, Classroom Teacher, Integration and Technology at Stillwater Middle School.
According to the U. S. Department of Education, only 16 percent of the country’s high school seniors have proven proficiency in mathematics and declared interest in STEM careers.
At Matsuura Machinery USA Inc., our continued success is based on our exceptionally skilled workforce, offering traditional craftsmanship combined with state-of-the-art engineering principles and our total commitment to excellence in product design, innovation and manufacturing.
“We are proud to be a part of educating tomorrow’s generation about the exciting future and careers available in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We invite the students to visit our 40,000-sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility and see our machines in action,” said Houle.
Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc. recently completed the addition of the Matsuura LUMEX Laboratory and demonstration facility within the existing corporate headquarters in St. Paul, MN. The facility joins the three other LUMEX Centers of Excellence locations in Japan, Germany and the UK.
The Matsuura LUMEX Series, manufactured for more than ten years, is now offered in North America with sales and technical support provided by Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc.
The Matsuura LUMEX Series, a powder bed metal AM platform with subtractive capability. The Matsuura LUMEX Series combines selective laser sintering (SLS) along with high speed milling (HSM) commonly called Hybrid AM.
“Matsuura’s cutting-edge technology is a transformative in today’s world of 3D Metal Additive Manufacturing. With our combination of best-in-class CNC Milling and high speed Direct Laser Melting, Matsuura has fundamentally revolutionized the AM marketplace,” Houle added.
Matsuura’s unique combination of technology platforms enables the production of parts and component geometries in a method that has never been possible nor imagined.
“Often referred to as a “one machine, one process” cutting solution, the Matsuura LUMEX Series permits production of the most complex and challenging parts through total manufacturing by digital engineering using 3D data,” Houle said.
“This process produces remarkable accuracy as metal powders are melted and sintered via laser while surfaces are precisely milled at high speeds. The Matsuura LUMEX Series possesses both high-speed milling plus laser sintering capability. Engineers are free to conceive innovative ideas and revolutionizing conventional manufacturing,” Houle added.
The Matsuura LUMEX Avance-25 metal laser sintering hybrid milling machine relies on one-machine, one-process manufacturing of complex molds and parts by fusing metal laser sintering (3D SLS) technology with high speed milling technology. The machine enables production of complicated parts through total manufacturing by digital engineering, using 3D data.
The Matsuura LUMEX Avance-25 is capable of processing parts up to 256 mm x 256 mm x 185 mm with an option allowing processing of 256 mm × 256 mm × 300 mm. The Matsuura LUMEX Avance-25 serves predominantly the high value, high accuracy mold and die market. Dies and molds with very complex geometries can be fabricated in one piece with high accuracy, shortening lead time and reducing manufacturing costs to a half or even a third of conventional methods.
The Matsuura LUMEX Avance-25 achieves the highest accuracy in part fabrication since metal powders are melted and sintered via laser, while surfaces are precisely milled at high speeds. 3D cooling channels can be incorporated into molds in the single setup, thereby increasing cooling efficiency and enabling high-cycle injection molding with better than ever quality and precision, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Differentiated original parts production with internal structures, thus far considered impossible, are feasible on the Matsuura LUMEX Avance-25. The Matsuura LUMEX metal laser sintering hybrid milling machine is capable of quick turn production of custom parts, whether prototypes or small production run parts.
“Rising interest in the Matsuura LUMEX products from aerospace and automobile industries searching for a machine capable of creating larger, high value-added parts prompted Matsuura to develop the Matsuura LUMEX Avance-60,” Houle explained.
The Matsuura LUMEX Avance-60 can process parts up to 600 mm x 600 mm x 500 mm. The machine is also outfitted with a high power 1kW fiber laser that significantly reduces sintering time.
The Matsuura LUMEX Avance-60 provides an increased speed of powder distribution to the table top surface along with a fully integrated automatic powder supply, collection and recycle system. Metal powder materials are distributed automatically into the sintering chamber without operator contact, eliminating powder dispersion in the work area and preserving a safe environment. Unused powder is automatically collected, sieved and recycled.
“Learn more about the Matsuura LUMEX Series and engage your imagination in what you can achieve,” Houle added.
Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc., located in St. Paul, MN is the U.S. subsidiary of Matsuura Machinery Corporation in Japan. Since 1935, Matsuura has delivered unmatched excellence in high speed and high precision CNC machine tools. From full 5-axis, vertical, horizontal, linear motor or multi-tasking CNC machine tools, Matsuura has been the forerunner in designing innovative technology and manufacturing solutions to a variety of industries around the globe. Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc. provides the service, applications, and technical field support that have always been the Matsuura standard for business.