On July 15, Hurco announced the company recently filed a U.S. patent application for new technology combining 3D printing and CNC machining.

We designed an additive manufacturing adapter that, in combination with proprietary Hurco control software, effectively turns a CNC milling machine into a 3D printer, said 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, explained Volovic.

This will now allow Hurco to achieve 3D printing directly on a machine tool without the need for a separate 3D printer. Hurco is working on expanding its role in additive manufacturing technology.

The patent application filed by Hurco is for an adapter to allow basic CNC milling machines into fully functioning 3D printers. Becasue 3D printers use generally the same parts as a typical CNC machine and work in a similar way, Hurco was able to take the initiative to develop an adapter and expand machine tool uses with additive manufacturing technology.

Such a breakthrough could save manufacturers millions of dollars, as their current equipment can be re-purposed or co-purposed to include that of 3D printing. Companies which had considered purchasing 3D printing equipment in the past, but decided against it due to costs, may now be able to affordably add 3D printing to their manufacturing capabilities.

For more information, please visit www.hurco.com