Additive manufacturing, also known as industrial 3D printing, has added a new dimension the manufacturing industry. One of the many advantages of additive manufacturing is the ability to build forms that are not achievable with traditional manufacturing methods. This gives engineers the freedom to focus more on optimizing the component design, and less on the limitations of the manufacturing process. The many benefits include improved part functionality, weight reduction, decreased assembly time, and lower overall manufacturing costs, as shown in the two case studies below.
HP - Optimized Drill Extraction Shoe
HP's engineers re-designed a drill extraction shoe that was used in the manufacturing process to create print heads. The original assembly was manufactured from machined aluminum and standard parts. The final design integrated the various parts into one single piece, and was designed to be manufactured of Nylon 12 with the HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer.
RESULTS
Multi-part assembly reduced to a single piece
The resulting part was watertight, without additional post-processing
Manufacturing costs reduced by 95%
Weight reduced by 90%
Lead time reduced from 3-5 days to 24 hours
Aerosport - Redesigning a rudder trim system
Aerosport Modeling and Design Inc. was redesigning a rudder trim system used in an instrument panel which was used as part of their manufacturing assembly line. The original assembly was built of 16 machined and standard metal parts.
With the freedom of design inherent in additive manfuacturing, the engineers were able to reduce a 16 part metal assembly to four pieces 3D printed on HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology with low-cost Nylon PA12.
RESULTS
Reduce the final design from a 16 part assembly to only 4 parts
Decrease the manufacturing lead time to 24 hours
Minimize the assembly time with only 1/6 the number of parts
Significant reduction in cost with reduced material costs, shorter assembly time and eliminated need to maintain a part inventory
Additive Manufacturing with Tempus 3D
Whether you are learning how to design for additive manufacturing or looking for a reliable Canadian manufacturer to produce high-quality, affordable plastic parts, the team at Tempus 3D is available to help. With state-of-the-art HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, online ordering and an HP certified team of professionals, Tempus will work with you to ensure you get the best value possible.
Read the full article at www.tempus3d.com/advantages-of-part-consolidation-with-additive-manufacturing
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