MDX 40A

Desktop Rapid Prototyping

The Roland MDX-40A is a desktop Subtractive Rapid Prototyping (SRP) system that offers product designers a major value. At less than half the cost of most additive systems, the MDX-40A produces prototypes out of a wide variety of non-proprietary materials with greater precision and better surface finish. The MDX-40A’s compact design makes it a perfect fit for offices and classrooms.

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Overview

The Roland MDX-40A is a desktop Subtractive Rapid Prototyping (SRP) system that offers product designers a major value. At less than half the cost of most additive systems, the MDX-40A produces prototypes out of a wide variety of non-proprietary materials with greater precision and better surface finish. The MDX-40A’s compact design makes it a perfect fit for offices and classrooms.

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What Our Users Are Saying...

The sky's the limit. Now I can carve with the same fluidity as casting.

-Sculptor Andrew Werby, Berkeley, California

Summary

  • SRP technology:
    • Creates the most accurate prototypes for complex snap-fits
    • Proves part manufacturability better than additive methods
    • Handles a wide variety of materials and generates a smooth surface finish
  • Bundled 4-axis SRP Player CAM software makes it easy to go from CAD model to physical prototype
  • Large 12” x 12” x 4.1” maximum work volume without rotary axis
  • New! Optional rotary axis supports materials up to 10.6” long by 4.7” in diameter. Twice the workarea of the previous model
  • New! Virtual control panel offers additional functions
    • Moves tool in vertical, horizontal and transverse directions, and to a user-specified position
    • Adjusts the speed of cursor movements for easier origin setting
  • Real-time cutting and spindle speed override capability
  • New! Bundled Roland ClickMill™ software
    • Surfaces materials, adds holes and rounds edges – all without 3D CAD file
  • High speed 15,000 rpm spindle for creating detailed features with precision tools
  • New! G-Code compatibility
  • Emergency stop switch and machine cover for clean, quiet and safe work environment

Options

  • ZCL-40A rotary axis unit automatically positions parts for unattended 360 degree modeling
  • Optional contact scanning unit digitizes physical parts for use in reverse engineering, product design, woodworking, archiving and more

Features

SRP® Technologyfea1.jpg

Subtractive Rapid Prototyping (SRP) has several advantages over additive rapid prototyping, also called “3D printing.” SRP devices cost significantly less to own and operate due to lower material costs and no annual maintenance contracts while producing prototypes out of a wider variety of non-proprietary materials with greater precision and better surface finish.

SRP Systemsblurb_asd_srpsystems.jpg

 Todd Grimm, the man who wrote the book on rapid prototyping for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, found that Roland SRP devices produce prototypes faster, better and cheaper than most additive RP systems.

Download the Choosing the Right RP System Brochure [PDF Format (1.9 MB)]

Functional Prototypesfea2.jpg

Like all Roland SRP devices, the MDX-40A can mill a wide range of low cost, non-proprietary materials including ABS, delrin, nylon, acrylic and tooling board. This lets designers and engineers create functional prototypes to test how well products will actually work. Handled by market focus groups, these prototypes must perform like the final manufactured product and survive a barrage of physical tests, including thermal and structural trials. For example, toothbrush prototypes undergo in-vivo testing for hand fit, brush reach and handle deflection.

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The MDX-40A’s high-precision spindle decreases vibration within the unit and produces extremely accurate models. It achieves resolutions up to 0.000039 inches per step and creates the most accurate prototypes for complex snap-fits. With ISO15448 standard collets, the MDX-40A also generates a smooth surface finish that requires little to no post finishing work.

Speedy Productionfea4.jpg

Roland SRP devices typically create parts faster than a 3D printer. According to Todd Grimm’s independent study of RP systems, the SRP process saves time by producing parts that are smooth and precise right off the machine. Additive systems, on the other hand, typically require time-consuming post finishing processes.

SRP Player CAM Softwarefea5.jpg

The MDX-40A is packaged with Roland SRP Player CAM software, ideal for rapid prototyping and custom rapid manufacturing applications. SRP Player was created specifically for designers and engineers to make SRP prototype parts quickly and easily in five easy steps using an easy to follow, intuitive workflow. SRP Player accepts a wide range of file formats including industry standard .stl. As a result, it produces superior parts with smooth surfaces and accurate, tight-fit precision.

ClickMill Softwarefea6.jpg

Bundled ClickMill software enables direct control of the MDX-40A for surfacing, drilling holes, cutting pockets and other finishing processes, all without accessing  CAD or CAM software.

G-Code Supportfea7.jpg

The MDX-40 is a compact desktop mill that fits nicely in any office. It comes with an emergency stop switch that shuts down the machine at the push of a button. An optional safety cover makes the cutting mechanism inaccessible during operation and keeps dust out of the surrounding environment.

Rotary Axis (Optional)fea8.jpg

With the ZCL-40A optional rotary axis, the MDX-40A performs unattended four-sided milling at increments of one degree. When one side is completed, the part is automatically rotated until all sides have been milled.  This saves time and lets you continue on with your design work while your prototypes are being created.

The ZCL-40A optional rotary axis unit supports materials up to 10.6” long by 4.7” in diameter (270mm long by 120mm in diameter), twice the capacity of Roland’s previous model and large enough to mill a 16.9oz. (500ml) PET bottle.

Optional Contact Scanning Unitfea9.jpg

The optional ZSC-1 adds the power of reverse engineering to the MDX-40A. Using Roland Active Piezo Sensor technology, the MDX-40A transforms into a powerful and accurate tool for digitizing an existing part or mold for your CAD software. This technology gives the MDX-40A the ability to scan a wide variety of objects including soft objects like modeling clay. It can even scan glass or acrylic objects without making a scratch. The ZSC-1 includes scanning software – or for more advanced reverse engineering projects you can add a copy of PixForm Pro 2 reverse engineering software.

Perfect Office Fit

The MDX-40A is a compact desktop mill that fits nicely in any office. It comes with an emergency stop switch that shuts down the machine at the push of a button. An integrated safety cover makes the cutting mechanism inaccessible during operation and keeps dust out of the surrounding environment.

Reliable PerformerIntertek ISO 9001-2008

https://www.optimumarc.com/testservices/administrator/index.php?option=com_content§ionid=8&task=edit&cid[]=106 Roland's international ISO certification is your assurance of Roland's commitment to continuous improvement of our products and services, as well as our quality system. We build reliable, high-performance products and back them up with first-rate customer service and a wide variety of supplies and accessories.

Specifications

MODEL MDX-40A
Acceptable materials  Resins such as chemical wood and modeling wax (metal not supported)
X, Y, and Z strokes 12 (X) x 12 (Y) x 4-1/8 (Z) in.
(305 (X) x 305 (Y) x 105 (Z) mm)
Distance from spindle tip to table Maximum 123 mm (4-13/16 in.)
Table size 12 (W) x 12 (D) in.
(305 (W) x 305 (D) mm)
Loadable workpiece weight 8.8 lb (4 kg)
XYZ-axis motor Stepping motor
Feed rate XY- axis: 0.0039 to 1.9 in./s (0.1 to 50 mm/sec.),
Z- axis: 0.0039 to 1.1 in./s (0.1 to 30 mm/sec.)
Software resolution NC- code: 0.000039 in./step (0.001mm/step),
RML-1: 0.00039 in./step (0.01 mm/step)(RML-1)
Mechanical resolution 0.00008 in./step (0.002 mm/step)(Micro-step)
Spindle motor Brushless DC motor, Maximum 100 W
Spindle rotation 4500 to 15000 rpm
Tool chuck Collet
Interface USB (compliant with Universal Serial Bus Specification Revision 1.1)
Power supply Voltage and frequency  AC100 to 240 +/-10%, 50/60 Hz
Required power capacity 2.1 A
Power consumption Approx. 210W
Acoustic noise level No- load operation: 56 dB (A) or less, Standby: 42 dB (A) or less
Dimensions 26- 3/8 (W) x 29-15/16 (D) x 21-13/16 (H) in.
669 (W) x 760 (D) x 554 (H) mm
Weight 143.3 lb (65 kg)
Operation temperature 41 to 104°F (5 to 40°C)
Operation humidity  35 to 80% (no condensation)
Included items  Power cord, power plug adapter, USB cable, collet, Z0 sensor, hexagonal wrench, hexagonal screw drivers, spanners, Roland
 
System Requirements for Inlcuded Software
OS Windows Vista®(32bit edition) or Windows® XP (32bit edition) and Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
CPU Pentium® 4, 2.4GHz or faster recommended
RAM 1GB or more recommended
Free hard-disk space 20MB or more recommended
Video card and monitor A resolution of 1024 x 768 or more recommended, video card compatible with OpenGL recommended, and at least 16-bit
 
Optional Rotary Axis Unit (ZCL-40A)
Maximum angle of rotation +/- 18 x 105° (+/-5000 rotations)
Maximum loadable workpiece size* 4.7 in.(120 mm) diameter by 10.6 in. (270 mm) long
Maximum thickness holdable by workpiece clamp 0.4 to 1.8 in. (10 to 45 mm)
Loadable workpiece weight 2.2 lb (1kg ) (including clamps)
Feed rate 0.23-11.79 rpm
Mechanical resolution 0.005625 deg./step (Micro-step)
Dimensions 18.5 (W) x 11.3 (D) x 4.5 (H) in.
(470 (W) x 286 (D) x 115 (H) mm)
Weight 16.5 lb (7.5 kg)
Included items Y- origin sensors (large and small), Z-origin sensor, Y-origin detection pin, center drill, live center, hexagonal wrench, cap
*The range that can actually be cut is limited by the amount of tool extention and interference between the loaded workpiece
 
Optional 3D Scanning Sensor Unit (ZSC-1)
Maximum scanning area 12.0 (X) x 12.0 (Y) x 2.3 (Z) in.
(305 (X) x 305 (Y) x 60 (Z) mm)
Distance from probe tip to table Maximum 3.6 in. (92.4 mm)
Table load capacity Maximum 8.8 lb (4 kg)
Sensor Type Roland Active Piezo Sensor (RAPS)
Effective Probe Length 2-5/16 in. (60 mm)
Tip Bulb Radius 0.00315 in. (0.08 mm)
Minimum scan pitch .002 in (.051 mm)
Scanning method Contacting, mesh-point height-sensing
Operating speed XY-axis 0.6 to 1.1 in./s (15 to 30 mm/sec.)
Z-axis 0.04 to 1.1 in./s (1 to 30 mm/sec.)
 
Item Model Description
Rotary axis unit ZCL-40A See the above specifications
3D Scanning sensor unit ZSC-1 See the above specifications
Replacement spindle unit ZS- 40 1GB or more recommended
Dust box ZDX-40 26.33(W) x 30.27(D) x 3.8(H) in.
(666 (W) x 769 (D) x 97 (H) mm)