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Purple Platypus

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Bell & Howell: From Prototyping To Direct Digital Manufacturing

Bell_Howell_427Precision-Optics Product Maker Manufacturers Parts with Additive Fabrication

“If we [change] a component design after a short time, it might be more cost effective to build our own parts rather than pay…for tooling and production.”
— Michael Jones, Bell & Howell

Bell & Howell is a producer of quality optics-based products. The company makes equipment such as high-end production scanners, high-speed mail-handling systems, sorting and inserting equipment, and electronic mail and messaging systems. The scanner division in Lincolnwood, IL builds leading-edge high-speed scanners that can quickly transform reams of paper documents into electronic files.

Prior to purchasing a Fortus system, Bell & Howell’s design cycle was typically 18 months. “On average, we brought that down to about nine months: one-half the time it used to take,” says Mike Scheller, Director of Mechanical Engineering. “Much of that improvement is due to the FDM process. With it, components fit together better; we have a better idea of the aesthetics; and we have much better design review than in the past.” Engineers used FDM to improve assembly components in one of their high-end scanner models to compete for a multi-million-dollar contract. After just five months, the scanner re-design was complete and the company won the contract.

Real Solution

Flag-hold-downs-BRIGHT_200Like a number of progressive companies, Bell & Howell has learned that additive fabrication systems like FDM can be employed for direct digital manufacturing of parts for end use.

In the process of redesigning the assembly, engineers determined that the quality of a component called the flag hold-down, built on the FDM system, was better than needed to perform its job. And because they needed under 2000 units per year, the company could manufacturer them in bulk on the FDM system rather than order them from a molding company. They were able to manufacture the parts in batches of 50 and install them directly in the end-product.

“It’s advantageous to have the capability,” says electro-mechanical technician Michael Jones. “If a supply company failed to deliver a plastic part for some reason, we could prevent a production stoppage by building the parts on the FDM machine. Another advantage is if we planned to change a component design after a relatively short time, it might be more cost effective to build our own parts rather than pay a molding company for tooling and production.”

Our Locations


Irvine Headquarters
16842 Hale Ave.
Irvine, CA 92606
Map & Directions

Phone: 949.474.9222
Fax: 949.474.9003
Email: [email protected]

Purple Platypus 3D Printing Phoenix
Phoenix Office + Showroom
2330 West Parkside Ln., Suite G105
Phoenix, AZ 85027
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(By Appointment Only)


Bay Area Office
2185 Ronald St.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
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Phone:415.417.3838
Email: [email protected]

 


LACI Satellite Location
525 S Hewitt St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
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(By Appointment Only)

 

 

Locations

  • Irvine Headquarters
    16842 Hale Ave.
    Irvine, CA 92606
  • Bay Area Office + Showroom
    2185 Ronald St.
    Santa Clara, CA 95050
    By Appointment Only
  • Phoenix Office + Showroom
    2330 West Parkside Ln., Suite G105
    Phoenix, AZ 85027
    By Appointment Only

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CONTACT OUR TEAM

949.474.9222
[email protected]

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Copyright © 2023 · Purple Platypus · Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy

  • Products
    ▼
    • Plastic 3D Printers
      ▼
      • Stratasys Production Printers
        ▼
        • H350
        • Origin One
        • Neo Series
      • Stratasys FDM Printers
        ▼
        • F900
        • Fortus 450mc
        • F770
        • F123CR Series
        • F123 Series
      • Stratasys PolyJet Printers
        ▼
        • J850 Pro & Prime
        • J850 TechStyle
        • J826 Prime
        • J55 Prime
        • J35 Pro
        • Objet30 Pro & Prime
        • J4100
        • J850 Digital Anatomy Printer
        • J5 MediJet
      • MakerBot Printers
        ▼
        • METHOD
      • Onulis Printers
        ▼
        • WRAP
        • WRAPCure
    • Post Processing Equipment
      ▼
      • DLP Post-Curing
        ▼
        • WRAPCure
      • Cleaning
        ▼
        • Powershot C
      • Surfacing
        ▼
        • Powershot S
        • Powerfuse S
      • Dyeing
        ▼
        • DM60
    • CNC Machines
      ▼
      • Roland DG SRM-20
      • Roland DG MDX-50
    • 3D Scanners
      ▼
      • Quadro+
      • Optima+ M
      • Fine Precision
      • Wide Range
      • eviXmatic
    • Waterjets
      ▼
      • ProtoMAX
    • Engravers
      ▼
      • Roland DG DE-3
    • Software
      ▼
      • Materialise Software
        ▼
        • Materialise Magics
        • Materialise 3-matic
        • Materialise e-Stage
        • Materialise Build Processor
      • GrabCAD Print
      • GrabCAD Shop
  • Materials
    ▼
    • SAF Materials
    • Origin One Materials
    • SLA Materials
    • FDM Thermoplastics
    • PolyJet Photopolymers
  • Services
    ▼
    • 3D Printing Classes
    • Print Your Part
  • Pre-Owned Equipment
    ▼
    • Fortus 380mc
    • Eden 260VS
    • Objet260 Connex3
    • Objet30 Prime
    • Heavy Duty Quadro
  • Get A Quote
  • Contact Us