Ecosub underwater
For design engineers , the use of AM enables them to look past the constraints that exist around traditional DfM and DfA .
3DPRINTUK is extremely well-positioned in the 3D printing sector as a company that has considerable expertise and experience to support clients in maximising the opportunities and avoiding the pitfalls for a wide range of 3D printing applications .
Some of our most recent case studies illustrate this point better than I can :
• ecoSUB Robotics has benefitted from 3D printing through “ understanding Design for AM and the management of the 3D printing process to maximise efficiencies and therefore reduce costs per part .” In addition , the company has benefitted from the ability to “ customise designs for individual clients ” enabled by the innate capability of 3D printing as a direct manufacturing process .
• Komodo Simulations have developed realistic helicopter control systems for home Flight Sim Pilot and Professional Flight Simulators . These control systems are traditionally manufactured in many different parts , can be printed as a single part , which eliminates assembly and significantly reduces production costs . In addition , 3D printing allows for hollowed out internal parts and little to no limitation on the design of complex curved parts . The capability to produce high surface detail also means that textured grip surfaces can be included in the design .
• DfAM provided Kongsberg with new opportunities too . According to the company “ By deciding to 3D print this pivotal part in a new design right from the word go , we were able to shrink the size , while integrating features and functionality that are simply not available through other manufacturing methods .”
• For Brushtec , a worldclass designer and manufacturer of innovative brushwear , 3D printing has unlocked a new level of innovation and enabled the comoany to “ design complex SLS parts and not be restricted by the limitation of standard machining .”
For design engineers , the use of AM enables them to look past the constraints that exist around traditional DfM and DfA . In so doing , there is much greater freedom of design in terms of complexity . Parts can be produced using 3D printing that are more ergonomic and which incorporate multiple parts and features which would be impossible or prohibitively expensive to achieve via the fabrication of highly complex tooling required for injection moulding .
The opportunities are endless , however , there are caveats . Of course . 3D printing for production applications does have its own constraints . In part 3 of this series , we will consider these in more detail and highlight how to work around them to ensure success .
58 PECM Issue 58