Automotive Design
no compromises in the mechanical qualities of those parts: and the production method and the materials would be very similar to what we would use in the final version.”
Richard contacted Proto Labs using the company’s two interactive, online quotation systems: Protoquote and Firstquote. Both systems let him upload his 3D CAD models and then within hours sent back an accurate quote – not an estimate. “I was very impressed with the process,” says Richard, “it was so easy. Online quoting systems rarely work as advertised, but this time they did. The Proto Labs systems gave us a complete price based on our CAD models; a price that was updated instantly when we changed the quantity or material, so we knew what we would pay for what we wanted. I also liked the personal touch! For example, Protomold suggested a small, design refinement, in this case adding draft angles to help release the motor arm from the mould.” The machined parts were delivered within three days of
Fig. 2. Proto Labs produced the throttle crank and the stepper motor arm.
Richard decided to use Proto Labs’ Protomold injection- moulding service to produce the stepper motor arm from glass-reinforced nylon. However, he says: “I chose Firstcut’s machining service to make the throttle crank from the same material, partly because I wanted to compare the processes and partly because creating a mould for the throttle crank would not have been cost-effective. At this stage in the product development, it is very important to minimise costs.”
Fig. 3. Scion-Sprays’ fuel injection system cuts HC+NOx by around 35 per cent, and CO emissions by over 80 per cent compared with a standard engine.
Richard accepting the quote: “And that was their standard delivery – they can do it even faster if want. The moulded parts took slightly longer but that is because the tooling required. Nevertheless, they were with me in a matter of days, not months, like other suppliers.” Overall, Richard was he was very impressed with the
service, including the quality of the finished components: “Proto Labs delivered exactly what they said they could which was exactly what I wanted. The QFI system performed as it was designed to and, as a result, we secured our first commercial order from that European motorcycle maker worth €4 million over the next 3 years.” l
Proto Labs Limited is based in Telford, Shropshire, UK.
www.protolabs.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68