This month’s Part of the Month was chosen by none other than Senior Sales Engineer, Max Semko. Max had a really tough time picking out a part, a side-effect of working at Purple for 14 years, and knowing our showroom in-and-out. But, ultimately, he chose a milled block of buckles – fully functional when not still in block-form. “It’s a great example of how a milling machine can help you in a pinch when a part is needed,” states Max.
This part has five buckles, which were milled on the Roland DG MDX-50 into a block of white ABS. Given that the part was CNC’d, the mechanical properties are identical to traditional ABS, because it is just traditional ABS.
For sourcing materials, you can make use of scraps or easily purchase blocks at a plastic supply company. The material we used to mill these buckles is $3 per pound, which is 50% less than any additive manufacturing material. Even though it’s called subtractive manufacturing, it can add value to any short-run or prototyping workflows.
In general, the MDX-50 is a good fit for our customer base. Unlike other CNC mills, the MDX-50 allows users to upload their parts as STL files. As 3D printer users, our customers won’t need to learn another software to create models for the machine.
The interface is intuitive, and Max told our Marketing Manager that within 3 hours even she could be halfway to being an expert at it. Unless he was lying, which we’ve never known him to do so, the MDX-50 really is easy to use.
So… how does it work?
To mill this part, three different drill bits were required. One to start the roughing process, another for the finishing process, and lastly one for smoothing down the surface of the part. The MDX-50 has a 5-station automatic tool changer built in, so the user doesn’t need to stop whatever they’re working on to swap drill bits.
How long did this specific part take to CNC? Honestly, we forgot to ask. But, if it’s anything like any of the other parts we’ve seen Max – or any of our team – CNC, the answer is a number of hours. As the MDX-50 is fully automatic, it’s a pain and hassle-free number of hours.
Although your day-to-day work backpack might not have buckles that constantly break, Max was right in saying that this Part of the Month illustrates the benefits of the MDX-50. If you’re interested in learning more about the other materials the MDX-50 can mill, or in learning more about its capabilities, give us a call at 949.474.9222 or an email at ask@purpleplatypus.com.
Meet Max Semko
Max not only manages the daily operations of our Field Service department, but he has a wide range of responsibilities, from selling ProtoMAX and Roland DG desktop CNC mills to machine maintenance services. What Max enjoys most about working at Purple is our team. “One of the things I enjoy most is the feeling of this closely-knit family and the sense of camaraderie in the Purple office.”
Out of the office, Max enjoys seasonal outdoor activities. He likes to go camping and engaging in off-road desert activities in the fall, snowboarding in the winter, and snorkeling in the summer. If you haven’t had the chance to meet Max, make sure to stop by the office or connect with him on LinkedIn!
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