PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Designing the Future
When customers come to us, they often pose the question if we can print an object for them if they don’t have an object file or a design that suits their needs. Kreate 3D offers a design service that can meet those requirements ranging from non-functional parts, to functional parts with specific requirements such as impact resistance, flexibility, food safety, chemical resistance, UV resistance etc.
WHAT WE DO
We pay special attention to the look and feel of the object so that it doesn’t only fulfil it’s functional job but so that it’s also pleasing to the eye.
To tackle these design challenges we take a structured approach to each assignment. Starting off with the ideation phase, in collaboration with our client (you!) we think about the shape and form that your idea can take when it’s materialized. We pay special attention to the look and feel of the object so that it doesn’t only fulfil its functional job but so that it’s also pleasing to the eye. Another part of this phase is the feasibility study in which we determine the type of material that is to be used. This choice depends on many aspects such as not only the functional requirements but also the type of printing technology to be used, the quantity of ordered prints and the production deadline.
PROJECTS
HOURS OF DESIGNING
TEST PHASES
When all these steps are completed, we can start with the actual design process of producing a digital file of your idea that can be printed. Unlike many people’s idea of 3D printing, it is (unfortunately) not just pressing a button and out comes the print. Each type and brand of material is unique as it has different material properties and hence causes unique micro-deviations in the object’s dimensions. Another factor that influences the object dimensions is the type of printing technology used and the position in which it was printed. These deviations can range from 0.1 millimeters to 0.01 millimeters. It doesn’t sound like much but that is enough to cause some serious issues on the functional performance of the part. That is why each prototype is checked, tested and validated before we start with the production process of the final object(s).
Each printer type has its own unique production process. Some, such as MSLA (Mask Stereolithography) require the print to be cleaned with Isopropanol, supports to be removed and cured using UV light with a specific wave length, others such as FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) don’t require cleaning but use more supports which have to be removed. Some models even require chemical treatment after printing depending on the requirements of the customer. Once produced and quality checked, we send the order your way as quickly as possible.
If you should like to know more about the projects we do, here at Kreate, you can read more about it here!
