Instrumentation • Electronics
“The Stratasys 3D Printer can produce parts with complex shapes, which allows us to produce parts of wide-ranging dimensions and hollow forms, as well as full honeycomb structures,” Masenelli explains. Another Stratasys
Fig. 2. Survey Copter designs remote systems for surveillance photography
customer, Rutland Plastics, recently moved into rapid prototyping for customers to test products prior to committing to invest in a mould tool. Originally the company manufactured its own range of plastic products from artificial flowers to children’s toys. Cheap imports led to Rutland Plastics diversifying more into injection moulding for other companies including
such things as nameplates and push-buttons for Ford. “Some customers will only want one or a few
prototypes, but we can now also offer this to existing customers in the hope that if they get a prototype from us initially, it can later on be developed to full-blown
CNC prototypes A
RRK proposed an ABS fabricated CNC model and supplied a model Comprising 25 CNC components
in ABS and clear acrylic to prove the design and fit of the components. Husqvarna conducted field trials to cut grass and confirm the performance of the lawnmower. The use of ABS, with its high impact
properties, allowed the lawnmower to endure the physical demands of the trials, which allowed the design team to optimise the cut and collection performance of the Multimo. ARRK was then commissioned to produce vacuum castings of all the components, resulting in 15 fully assembled lawnmowers being supplied. “CNC services can still be classed as
prototyping,” contends Marc Bouvier of ARRK Europe. “We also make dashboards for vehicle testing from selective laser sintering (SLS) powder-based rapid prototyping.”
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injection moulding for volume production,” explains Stuart Lovett, marketing manager at Rutland Plastics. “We also make parts for a pump that is used for
draining central heating systems. “The customer has just up-rated the pump motor
and one of the parts we make has a filter with holes that allows water through. “Now because of the up-rated pump, the customer
wanted to increase the flow, so we came up with a redesign to the part, which had a filter with more holes. The customer was concerned that some of the water might blow out again because of the increased pump power, so we suggested that they build a prototype to test it. “We produced one prototype with maximum flow
and another prototype with smaller holes. “They were then able to assemble both prototypes
and attach them to the pump so they could test it and decide which way to go. “As a result, they were able to go for the one which
offered maximum flow because they could show that it worked.” At Haughton Design, engineers develop designs
through visualisation, 3D modelling and prototyping. The team comprises of industrial designers, mechanical designers, design engineers and design detailers. This combination of engineering heritage allows us to offer the complete design development process. The company offers specific expertise to mechanically focused clients such as FEA with a fully traceable design binder. The company has provided prototype design
ARRK uses CNC masters for its
silicone tooling. The vacuum castings were produced using colour matched polyurethane resins that were as close to final production material as possible.
The components were finished, textured, assembled and then delivered within four weeks. Husqvarna has since reported a very successful product launch which it says reinforced the Flymo brand in the market. ●
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