Proto Labs Firstcut automates threaded holes

"Perhaps 15-20 per cent of our customers request threaded holes," says John Tumelty, managing director of Proto Labs, "which is what prompted us to look at automating this process. By making them quick and easy to specify, using the Firstcut process, we've eliminated a secondary operation." When a designer submits a 3D CAD model via the company's Firstquote interactive online quoting system, Firstcut's software automatically writes the tool-paths for its state-of-the-art high-speed, CNC milling machines. The software now recognises the existence of pilot holes in a part and will give the customer the option of specifying whether and how they should be threaded. Holes can be selected individually, while multiple holes of the same size can be selected collectively just as quickly and easily. "Our process is simple and straightforward," adds Mr. Tumelty, "and doesn't require the designer to have any understanding of the CNC machining process. We've developed the Firstcut software and designed the Firstcut service so that customers can experience the speed of typical additive rapid prototyping processes but have their parts made in aluminium or thermoplastic material to give them far superior accuracy, surface finishes and mechanical properties." Since the Firstcut process produces the toolpaths automatically, customers can order as many or as few parts as they need.