Currently, Europlaz creates both products and prototype designs via silicon and injection moulding, boasting extensive facilities and valuable expertise on the process. However, when it comes to prototype creation, this can be time-consuming and costly. The benefits of using the newly purchased 3D printer will come in the form of efficiency and cost-effectiveness and will be felt by customers whose products are in development.
Benefits of 3D Printing to Europlaz
Used in a multitude of industries, 3D printing has many applications. These include: creating designs for jewellery, dental moulds, custom hearing and audiology products, amongst various other examples. The medical device industry is no exception, and the use of these printers have far-reaching implications. The range of possibilities with this technology is broad and will prove beneficial for Europlaz engineers when developing novel medical technologies.
This iterative design cycle
Once a customer’s concept is in design, it can be time-consuming to see it through to commercial or trial manufacturing. 3D printing vastly speeds this up and will allow engineers to more efficiently carry out their iterative design cycle.
Firstly, engineers forward an initial design to decide on a prototype.
The prototype is then built via silicon moulding or 3D printing. At which point its functionality and a high standard of quality can go for testing and review.
The results of this review allow engineers to assess their design for possible improvements and subsequently implement them.
Now the cycle may begin anew, with the newest iteration of the design has eliminated potential drawbacks of the original.
FormLab 3D Printers
Formlabs 3D printers use a method known as Stereolithography to create 3D-printed objects. This works by taking CAD (Computer-Aided Design) instructions and translating them into a product by laying a thin layer of liquid plastic. Which the UV layer then cures, hardening and allowing to construct the next layer. This is repeated until a finished 3D product has been created.
For further information on how we manufacture our medical devices visit our full service manufacturing page.
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