Our annual Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Service Supplier Map, enclosed inside challenge 5 of TCT Journal (try the UK and North American editions), gives a helpful information to a number of the UK’s main suppliers of 3D printing companies.
Right here, we requested the folks behind the printing about their AM success tales, prime ideas, and realizing when it is sensible to outsource.
Jerry Sutton, Managing Director at Incremental Engineering
“We’re primarily simply one other instrument for OEM producers to make use of. We purpose to be a extremely boring, completely dependable, provider of elements. Why must you use a service bureau as a substitute of bringing AM in-house? Expertise. That will be my one-word reply. To develop somewhat, we see tons of of various elements coming by every single day and whereas most {industry} advertising and marketing would have us imagine that we’re working Star Trek Replicators and excellent issues come out on the contact of a button, we’re not. To get the very best high quality and repeatability of elements takes expertise and a radical understanding and monitoring of the processes and the way they obtain the top product.”
Adam Bloomfield, Head of 3D Printing at IPFL
“Our journey started with ardour for innovation and high quality, now main us to specialize in innovative micro 3D printing applied sciences like BMF’s 2µm decision, amongst our in depth additive manufacturing and CNC workshop. We’re creating ultra-precise microfluidic plates and micro needles arrays for main med-tech developments, drastically decreasing their product time-to-market and enhancing product efficiency. Think about 3D printing for its unparalleled design adaptability and speedy prototyping. By partnering with a service bureau like IPFL, you achieve entry to specialised experience and superior applied sciences with out the excessive in-house prices.”
Charlie Adamson, 3D Printing Technician at Paragon Speedy Applied sciences
“There are various various kinds of AM which use many alternative supplies. If a buyer determined to carry a expertise in-house, they’d be limiting themselves to only a couple supplies. Whereas if the client used a service bureau they may give themselves entry to DLS, MJF, SLA, SLS and lots of extra, which incorporates plenty of totally different supplies with plenty of variety within the properties. Subsequently, the client doesn’t must undergo the trouble of establishing their very own 3D printing facility, they don’t have to fret about all the prices included they usually nonetheless have entry to a variety of supplies, which they may not have entry to in-house.”
David Bennett, Bureau Supervisor at 3D Print Bureau
“Automotive producers typically face the problem of manufacturing correct, fast turnaround elements, particularly when frequent modifications to jigs, fixtures, and instruments are required. Certainly one of our latest success tales features a well-known automotive producer, who relied on our experience in additive manufacturing to help the creation of a number of jigs and fixtures for his or her manufacturing line. Impressed by the outcomes, they expanded their use of 3D printing to prototype fashions, together with the event of an actual 33% scale mannequin of a brand new automotive design utilizing a mixture of FDM and PolyJet applied sciences. These tasks had such an impression that they bought their very own F770 printer with our sister firm Tri-Tech 3D, after profitable trials with the bureau workforce.”
Vicki Might, Head of Gross sales & Advertising at Prototal UK
“There’s a void between in-house speedy prototyping and manufacturing additive manufacturing. We firmly encourage our clients to utilise the advantages of 3D printing, and bringing the expertise in-house is an effective way to cheaply and shortly prototype and iterate designs. We satisfaction ourselves on the manufacturing of high-volume, high-performance end-use parts, which is the place smaller platforms and cheaper AM options could fall wanting what you want. High quality management, materials traceability, repeatable construct parameters and sturdy post-processing are a necessity for end-use manufacturing, and that’s the place Prototal UK excels.
Daniel Johns, CEO at 3T-AM
“For us, the main target isn’t on a particular software however on perfecting the manufacturing system. Success hinges on optimising the interior worth chain, digitisation, and automation. When you will get that proper, any software can cross by the system and obtain industrial viability. With an in-house worth chain you cut back the provision chain into one organisation. That means you possibly can go from ordering materials from a foundry, in our case powder, to supply of the product to a buyer. So, you will have solely two suppliers and an finish buyer within the chain. With that comes a extra environment friendly manner of manufacturing a element and utilizing that effectivity we are able to reveal our web zero agenda, offering carbon zero certificates on each element.”
Patrick Partitions, Director of Engineering at LPE
“We offer quite a lot of metallic and plastic AM companies that allow our clients to provide elements with complicated geometries which might be unattainable with conventional manufacturing strategies. AM additionally helps speedy design iterations, rushing up improvement and decreasing time to market. Increasingly more we’re discovering that clients are turning to AM for low-volume manufacturing as a result of it permits for the creation of extremely customised merchandise tailor-made to particular wants. When you’re seeking to drive innovation in design, decrease prices, and shortly adapt to market calls for, AM is a expertise you need to take into account.”
Charles Robinson, Business Supervisor at 3DPrintworx
“Andrew Edwards, the world-renowned sculptor behind the enduring Beatles bronze sculpture on Liverpool’s waterfront, has been a valued companion of 3DPrintworx for a few years. Our collaboration started with aiding Andy in 3D scanning and enlarging his preliminary maquettes. Up to now two years, nonetheless, Andy has taken his sculpture to new heights—actually—by utilising large-volume 3D printing to create grasp fashions for his larger-than-life bronze sculptures, some standing over 7 toes tall. This revolutionary strategy has been made attainable by our use of Uniontech SLA 3D printers, which excel in large-scale manufacturing with mattress sizes reaching as much as 2.1 meters. This permits us to provide huge elements cost-effectively, typically at costs aggressive with conventional milling.”
Sabina Gonzalez-George, Director at CREAT3D
“Additive may be adopted in quite a lot of methods, and there’s no single answer for all corporations. Now we have purchasers which have each printers in-house and likewise use our print companies when at capability, for overflow tasks, or after they require specialist supplies. Irrespective of how corporations undertake additive manufacturing, the end result is at all times optimistic. One of many greatest impacts is the time saving. As a substitute of getting to attend 6+ weeks for a prototype or small batch of parts, elements are in your arms in days.”
Philip Martin, Managing Director at Ogle
“For prototyping and modelmaking, AM ought to be thought-about as there are large value and time financial savings to be realised, permitting product improvement cycles to be significantly lowered and extra components examined, enhancing designs. For manufacturing, the query ought to be ‘is it appropriate?’. Numerous the time it isn’t and conventional strategies corresponding to injection moulding, CNC machining or casting are nonetheless the best way to go. Materials properties, tolerances required, portions and value per half (and total product value) all want contemplating. If AM is the best way to go, designs may be optimised to additional save prices, weight, enhance high quality and lead occasions.”
Graeme Bond, Technical Director at FDM Digital
“A time-served engineer, I had an early 3D printer in my storage and realised the expertise could be transformational. From a tiny lock up with one printer we now have a state-of-the-art 10,000 sq ft manufacturing facility. The enterprise has grown through the F1, aerospace, automotive and industrial sectors. Now we have now added tooling design and manufacturing to our capabilities and invested in a large-format hybrid machine able to printing as much as 4 metres to help massive tooling. After Ultem 9085 was UL94V-0 licensed and authorized to be used by Airbus, we started writing AM requirements and printing end-use parts for our aerospace clients. To this point, we’ve positioned over 57,000 Ultem 9085 printed elements on industrial plane.”
Bryan Dransfield, Founding father of Digital Echo Ltd
“Digital Echo was fashioned 25 years in the past when a modelmaking studio invested within the newest digital sculpting expertise – which we showcased on the Tomorrows World TV programme! – and was searching for an reasonably priced ‘workplace modeller’ as an output. The wax polymer it used was additionally excellent as an funding casting sample and a brand new 3D printing service was born. Working alongside foundries, we’ve lately facilitated the event of a brand new gasoline turbine engine from design to check mattress in two years – an {industry} first. Our contribution was to provide complicated casting patterns with out the necessity for very costly tooling, permitting the event course of to make speedy design modifications whereas utilizing the identical supplies that will be used throughout manufacture.”
Paul Moloney, Founder and Managing Director at Midlands 3D
“With a deal with high quality and innovation, the corporate has expanded its capabilities by strategic acquisitions and investments in superior applied sciences like Multi Jet Fusion. Including Multi Jet Fusion to Midlands 3D’s capabilities has considerably expanded our capability and vary of choices. This expertise has enabled us to extend manufacturing velocity, develop materials choices and enhance half high quality.”
Elizabeth Goode Langan, Sr. Marketing consultant at Buildparts by CIDEAS
“Within the mid-2000s, CIDEAS centered on FDM and PolyJet, providing primary 3D-printed elements. We had simply employed Sue Warner, a proficient artist (sample finisher) beforehand with one other native store. Coincidently, we obtained a request for a big complicated silicone mould grasp, sometimes made with SLA. As a substitute, we constructed the half utilizing FDM ABS, an unconventional selection on the time. Sue’s meticulous work made the FDM grasp indistinguishable from SLA. Eight years later, I visited the consumer and was stunned to be taught that very same FDM grasp was nonetheless in use as a silicone mould grasp. On account of that have FDM and SLS fashions are actually generally used as the first substrate for our sample masters and completed show fashions.”
Janet Dickinson, Chief Working Officer at Endeavor 3D
“There are a number of causes to contemplate 3D printing. For the product innovators and the dreamers, there are challenges to carry their merchandise to life. 3D printing solves these challenges and extra. The developments in new processes, supplies, and design capabilities have unearthed new purposes in product design, manufacturing, and aftermarket objects.
New expertise integration is difficult (belief me, I do know). It requires plenty of buy-in, technical experience, and from my expertise, no singular 3D printing expertise can clear up each downside. Navigating the nuances of every course of, appropriate supplies, design issues, and submit processing necessities may be sophisticated. Our entry to totally different applied sciences, laboratory testing gear, and cross-industry expertise positions us properly as expertise consultants {and professional} downside solvers.”
Kirk Brown, Sr. Enterprise Growth Supervisor, Paid Elements (GoEngineer)
“GoEngineer’s service bureau began in 1999 with a Stratasys Genisys printer within the foyer of our Westminster, Colorado workplace. Clients coming in for SOLIDWORKS coaching would ask what it was. After listening to what it was, most shrugged it off, however one buyer requested if we may print a design they wanted that day — and we accomplished it in the course of the class.
Since then, we’ve continued to supply printing companies for the whole lot from toys and plane elements to surgical guides. Our affordability, breadth of applied sciences and velocity assist our clients get to market with out having to put money into costly upfront tooling. ”
Ryan Kees, International Product Director for 3D Printing at Protolabs
“It appears that there’s an ever-expanding record of printing applied sciences and supplies, additional empowering corporations to seek out methods to unravel their design and manufacturing challenges with additive capabilities.
3D printing shouldn’t be as simple and straightforward as shopping for a printer, plugging it in, and hitting ‘print’. Like many manufacturing processes, if you would like the most effective end-product, it’s essential to be sure you’re utilizing the proper supplies, making ready the printer for greatest output, and making certain that post-processing steps are in place. Service bureaus like Protolabs have extremely educated engineers and operational personnel on-site to make sure top quality – and simply as vital – consistency.”
This text initially appeared inside TCT Europe Version Vol. 32 Challenge 5. Subscribe right here to obtain your FREE print copy of TCT Journal, delivered to your door six occasions a yr.
