UKM-SUM24-PG24+25_Layout 1 24/06/2024 15:25 Page 25
3D PRINTING
File support is another important service. Sometimes, manufacturers may think that their CAD data file is fine and not realise there is an issue with it until they remove the part from the print bed. Our team at 3D Print Bureau are design engineers as well as 3D printing experts, so they can fix individual files using Autodesk Netfabb and alter settings in platforms like GrabCAD, say, to facilitate self- support geometries.
GrabCAD supports the use of these CAD files and offers added benefits including seam placement and the ability to modify holes to specific insert types. Autodesk Netfabb also supports many CAD file types that, as a bureau, we can inspect, modify and convert to mesh-type files like STL if needed.
Over the years, many of our customers have said that working with a bureau helped them to learn 3D printing techniques on small projects as they go, which includes selecting materials and adjusting files. This information sets them up for when they do invest in a system, and their knowledge will only grow.
UKManufacturing Summer 2024
SAVING TIME
Installing a 3D printer could disrupt existing operations at first and require configurations. If a manufacturer is new to this technology, the delays can be significant, so it can pay to bring in an external partner. If manufacturers require a fast turnaround time of 48 hours, for example, a bureau has the technology to produce the required parts promptly. Take this example, a motorsport client has a vehicle racing in a high-profile competition in just three days, and a new plastic dash component is needed. If the in-house printer is already tied-up with other urgent builds, outsourcing can augment production and minimise delays. Furthermore, manufacturers can be confident that the resulting part will meet the application’s quality requirements.
MATERIAL DIVERSITY
As well as expertise, bureaus offer choice. Manufacturers can choose from a wide range of materials, including plastics, metals, and composites, depending on the weight, finish
and other application requirements. Having this choice means that manufacturers do not need to invest in every technology to service their printing needs. At 3D Print Bureau, we offer a wide selection of materials, including stereolithography (SL) materials like Somos WaterShed XC 11122, which has ABS- and PBT-like properties and can produce clear, water-resistant parts, as well as fused deposition modelling (FDM) thermoplastics (including engineering and high- performance thermoplastics) and PolyJet Photopolymers, and Nylon PA11 and PA12. Starting a 3D printing journey can be complex, especially when a manufacturer has grown accustomed to traditional machining processes. Working with a bureau is a nice way to ease into additive production and can de-risk production by providing access to vital expertise, minimising delays, while enabling flexibility.
Tri-Tech 3D
www.tritech3d.co.uk
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