Product development process reduced by weeks
3D model – printed in multiple materials, all in a single build on the Objet Connex 3D PrinterNorthern Ireland based Whale, a water pump and heating system manufacturer announced that the company has shown an increase in new business following the purchase of an Objet Connex multi-material 3D Printer. It added that the introduction of the new 3D printer has allowed it to prototype design concepts with total accuracy and undertake robust testing using watertight digital materials. This has resulted in helping Whale to bring its products to market quicker than ever before.
"We saw Objet Connex multi-material technology as a means to provide a broad capability," commented Richard Bovill, Whale Design Engineering Manager. "The range of materials from rigid to rubber gives us a great advantage when recreating production parts, especially the water tight material, as it allows us to carry out robust tests that can reduce the product development process by weeks or even months."
Over the past three years Whale has issued 15 worldwide design patents, a testimony to its culture of innovation throughout the business, where it supplies high quality products to the marine, caravan and motor home, shower drainage and industrial markets. A critical reason for the new investment was the company’s determination to maintain its leadership in these markets. The addition of an Objet Connex 3D Printer to its portfolio of rapid prototyping solutions has now allowed Whale to expand its capabilities when designing new products and making improvements to current solutions.
"Using Objet Connex multi-material technology we can now produce rubber, over-moulded, transparent and waterproof models, allowing us to recreate design faults and identify ways we can improve our products in a much more cost effective and timely manner," said Managing Director Patrick Hurst. "This has enabled us to increase our existing business and create new business opportunities, whilst maintaining the level of innovation our customers are accustomed to."
With the Objet Connex multi-material 3D Printer currently in operation 24 hours a day, Whale are using a large variety of materials to deal with the demand and diversity of its customer's design projects.
"Having such a wide range of shore hardness and the ability to print rubber parts, means that it is like having three machines in one. We can now deliver our customers a finished high quality model in as little as 24 hours," concluded Hurst.
Whale purchased the Objet Connex 3D Printer through Objet UK distributor HK Rapid Prototyping who’s Sales Director Nigel Bunt added: "The Objet Connex provided Whale the ideal solution for their product design projects. Whale has now become more flexible and thus increased its workflow capacity."
http://www.whalepumps.com/
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3D model – printed in multiple materials, all in a single build on the Objet Connex 3D Printer
