Hurco Companies have filed a US patent application for a technology combining 3D printing and CNC machining.

"We designed an additive manufacturing adapter that, in combination with Hurco control software, effectively turns a CNC milling machine into a 3D printer," said Gregory Volovic, president of Hurco Companies. "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 utilising costly metals and raw material," explained Mr Volovic.

This additive manufacturing technology permits the company’s machine tools to achieve 3D printing directly on the machine tool without the need for a separate 3D printer.