Appliance Design - October 2007 - (Page 36)

PROTOTYPING A prototype developed by Dimension 3D Printing Group Think Fast The gear components in this assembly were built on a 3D printer from Dimension 3D Printing Group and then assembled to evaluate for form, fit, and function. New methods target shorter lead times. by larry adams 36 applianceDESIGN October 2007 n the past, making plastic parts required a quantum leap from a few, laboriously made prototypes to full-scale production, but new developments have inserted a few stepping stones into that gap. Innovations in rapid prototyping, along with newer concepts such as rapid tooling, rapid injection molding, and direct-digital manufacturing, have created a continuum of options for churning out plastic parts. How a manufacturer employs that continuum often boils down to two key questions. How many? How fast? But those answers must be considered in the context of cost and part functionality. A plastic part destined for high-volume production will ultimately be made by the conventional injection-molding method, as it will deliver finely detailed and beautifully finished parts that can be quickly cranked out, with repeatable accuracy and economies of scale. But, for the most part, these benefits come I after a part has gone through a complete design cycle and received all the necessary go-aheads along the way. Because of the time and expense involved with cutting mold steel, multiple prototypes are often made of a part before making the final commitment to its design. That, of course, delays production and slows the product’s entry into the market. The new options today help to eliminate the stark choice between waiting and full-scale production. As different vendors increase their offering of such services, the line between conventional injection molder and prototyping service bureau may also be blurring. At Hudson, Wis.-based Phillips Plastics, for example, a complete range of product development services and technologies are available, beginning in the early concept stage, running through the different prototyping stages, and continuing until low-volume and high volume molded parts are produced, says Vince Schultz, www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Appliance Design - October 2007

Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch Applying Powder Coatings to Plastic Parts is No Longer a Pipe Dream New Technology Platform Provides the Ability for a single IC to Control Two- Motors in a Single Appliance, Simplifying Motor Control Design Advanced Motor-Control Techniques have Become More Accessible to a Wider Array of Appliances, Helping to Improve Efficiency and Reduce Noise Adding USB Host Capability to Appliances Permits In-Field Programming and Acquisition of Test Data ZigBee Modules Make it Easier to Design Wireless Connectivity into Applications New Concepts such as Rapid Tooling and Rapid Injection Molding Provide Stepping Stones Between Prototyping and Full Scale Production A Number of Factors and New Developments Affect the Decision on Whether to Build Prototypes In-House or Outsource to a Service Bureau DesignMart Advertiser’s Index Association Report: CEA

Appliance Design - October 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.