Let’s say you need to produce testing equipment for the some of the most vital, complex industries in the world, like aerospace and defense, automotive, rail and others. In these industries, there is a lot riding on whether a part passes or fails rigorous testing. Producing this testing equipment quickly, flexibly and with 100% precision is an absolute must to stay competitive. This is why the product engineers at Peak Production Equipment Ltd. rely on Stratasys FDM 3D Printing solutions to create specialized jigs and fixtures for producing testing equipment for such companies as Rolls Royce, Siemens and BAE Systems. Testing is a vital part of product design, and Peak Production covers all the bases with their test boxes, test racks and other systems that are meant to catch weaknesses or safety issues during the design cycle. These pieces of testing equipment are themselves specialty items, and Peak Production has adopted Stratasys 3D printing as a way to create customized jigs and fixtures for their manufacture. Also, the 3D printed jigs and fixtures take up to 90% less time to create and cost 50% less than equivalent CNC-machined parts. This has enabled the company to ramp up production to meet the most aggressive [...]

MakerBot announced new 3D printing solutions that address the wider needs of professionals and educators. MakerBot believes its new solutions offer engineers and designers a faster and more effective way to develop ideas and offer educators a better way to integrate 3D printing in the classroom to teach creativity and problem solving. The new MakerBot Print and Mobile applications are designed to allow professionals to easily integrate MakerBot into their workflow and help educators introduce their students to 3D printing. These applications help streamline the print preparation process, save time, and produce higher quality prints. The new MakerBot Replicator+ and Replicator Mini+ have been re-engineered and tested to provide improved performance—that means faster, easier, and more reliable printing with a bigger build volume. With the new MakerBot Slate Gray Tough PLA Filament Bundle, engineers can create more durable, high-impact strength prototypes and fixtures. For educators, MakerBot is also launching Thingiverse Education to discover 3D printing classroom content created by other educators. “We have gone through a cultural shift here at MakerBot over the past year, where listening and understanding the needs of our customers are cornerstones of our company. As a result, we’ve gained an in-depth understanding of the wider needs of professionals [...]

Stratasys FDM 3D Printed prototype part on left is tested for form, fit and function before final part (on right) is produced Established in 1975, in Valence, France, SODIMAS designs and manufactures high end custom elevators. SODIMAS solutions can be adapted to all architectural styles and projects due to the quality of the materials used and their carefully designed finishing. “Because SODIMAS is focused on the niche elevator business, developing relatively small series of customized solutions, we need to innovate a lot and that’s why Stratasys 3D Printing Solutions are so important to our company,” explains Patrice Arnoult, General Manager, SODIMAS. Spearheading this innovation is the company’s FDM-based Fortus 450mc 3D Printer from Stratasys, which is being used for three primary applications: functional prototyping, assembly tools, as well as sales tools and teaching aids. Cutting Prototype Production Time by 98% “All of our elevator cabins are made from aluminum, but the concept and development for the frames is achieved using Stratasys 3D printing solutions,” explained Stéphane Réau, Deputy Technical Director. “We design and produce the parts that are used to assemble the elevator’s ceiling, walls and floor, simultaneously. Once we’ve 3D printed each part, we’re able to quickly check the design [...]