How does 3D-Printing work?
How does 3D-Printing fit into my design process?
How durable is ABS?
What colors are available for 3D-Printing?
What are 3D CAD Models and why do I need one?
I don't have a 3D CAD Model - Can you make one for me?
What drawing file formats do you accept?
My design is confidential, how do you ensure the privacy of my project?
How does 3D-Printing work?
The 3D printer builds functional 3D CAD models from the bottom up, one layer at a time, with ABS plastic to create a prototype model. STL files are imported into the 3D-Printer software which automatically plots a precise deposition path for the 3D- Printer to follow. ABS plastic is fed into an extrusion head, heated to a semi-liquid state and accurately deposited in layers 0.010-inch (0.254 mm) or 0.013-inch (0.330mm) thick. Layer thickness depends on your needs. Organic and complex geometric shapes and models can be easily and quickly created using 3D-Printing.
How does 3D-Printing fit into my design process?
Designers and Inventors using 3D CAD modeling programs can benefit from 3D-Printing in several ways:
- Reduce Time to Market - 3D-Printers help streamline design & development which can drastically reduce the time it takes to get products to the market place. The ease of use provides designers to fine tune their designs without expensive tooling charges using rapid prototypes.
- Generate Bottom-Line Savings - by enabling a highly collaborative and efficient design process, 3D-Printers and rapid prototypes have helped organizations significantly lower production costs and reduce expensive revisions late in the development cycle.
- Enhance Communication and Collaboration - 3D-Printing provides functional plastic models which can be easily shared, refined, and improved. 3D Prototyping also allows designers to easily communicate a design's true features to key audiences, including management, marketing, vendors and customers. Selling ideas is easy when you can show rather than explain.
- Prove Your Designs and provide functional models to show product feasibility. Designs that would take weeks to machine can be built and refined easily with 3D-Printed models to effectively demonstrate the value of designs.
How durable is ABS?
Unlike appearance rapid prototypes produced with weak materials, 3D-Printing provides parts built with ABS plastic that may be used for functional and field tests. A 3D-Printed parts’ strength depends on the geometry of the part, but in general, they have about 80% of the strength of injection molded ABS.
What colors are available for 3D- Printing?
ABS material is available in black, white, grey, blue, green, and red. Other colors are available by special order.
What are 3D CAD Models and why do I need one?
3D Models are created in a CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) program such as AutoDesk - Inventor, Solid Works or Unigraphics. These drawings/models are required in order to create a 3D-Printed prototype.
I don't have a 3D CAD Model - Can you make one for me?
Yes, we can convert your 2D Drawings to 3D Model. We provide 3D CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) services. Service charges are $35/hr. with a $35 minimum.
What drawing file formats do you accept?
Stereolithography files (.stl) are preferred, but we can accept .iges, .ipt, .dwg, parasolid.x_t, .step, .stp and .dxf files. Pre-processing charges will apply to formats other than .stl files. If you don’t know how to convert your 3D CAD Model to .stl format, we may be able to help you. Just contact us by phone or e-mail and we will try to assist you.
My design is confidential, how do you ensure the privacy of my project?
Customer confidentiality is essential to the prototyping process, and we take it very seriously. All of our customers are covered by our non-disclosure agreement which can be found on the policies page.
