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Purple Platypus

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Black and Decker: Dimension 3D Printer Powers Freedom

Black_and_Decker_427“Before using a 3D printer it would typically take three to five days to get a prototype back from the service bureau. Having the machine onsite has made a phenomenal difference to this procedure. Parts that previously took three days can now be ready in just a few hours.”
— Steve Swaddle Manager of Technology, Black and Decker

APPLICATION STORY

Black & Decker is a world leading name in DIY products used in and around the home. The company’s Global Design Centre in Spennymoor, CountyDurham is using the Dimension 3D Printer from Stratasys to dramatically speed up product development time.

Black & Decker is the world’s largest producer of power tools and accessories. The company has seen product development cycles in the UK decrease significantly over the past decade as global competition increases along with consumer demands. New product lines, for example in garden equipment, are expected to be launched yearly. The pressure to constantly launch new ranges means that the company is always looking for faster ways to get products developed and into stores.

Previously Black & Decker used a combination of in-house CNC milling for tooling while outsourcing stereolithography (SLA) and laser sintering (SLS) parts when designing new product ranges. However 18 months ago the company took the decision to purchase a 3D printer which would enable them to produce more prototypes in-house and shorten their development cycles.

The Dimension Solution

Black-and-Decker-Handheld-VacThe company chose the Dimension 3D Printer from Stratasys which prints tough, durable, high-quality ABS models. Having the machine in-house has completely changed product development cycles by making the process shorter and more efficient. Steve Swaddle, manager of technology at Black & Decker UK explains:

“Before using a 3D printer it would typically take three to five days to get a prototype back from the service bureau. Having the machine onsite has made a phenomenal difference to this procedure. Parts that previously took three days can now be ready in just a few hours”.

The Dimension 3D Printer enables designers to print parts directly from their CAD computers. The printer driver software installed on the network automatically imports STL files from the CAD software and builds highly durable, functional ABS models. Dimension 3D Printers can run unattended and provide system and build status updates via email, pager or online.

The design team at Black & Decker uses the 3D printer for evaluating and improving the form, fit and function of its models and to explore different design iterations such as for battery packs or housing casements.”Our industry is highly regulated and all new products have to comply with international standards set by organizations such as TUV and Kema”, he adds. “We recently had an inspector onsite reviewing new parts. He wasn’t happy with one particular aspect of a design. Our team was able to completely redesign it and present it to him again while he was still onsite. This would have been impossible previously.

BlackDecker3“Another significant benefit is that the design team now makes considerably more parts than they used to. The previous use of a bureau cost money each time a part was sent. Engineers often refrained from making too many parts or doing too many iterations of the same design in order to save money. Engineers can now make subtle or total design changes until they are completely satisfied, without having to worry about spiraling costs. This means that engineers are able to experiment and have much more freedom with designs.

Black & Decker saw the Dimension 3D Printer pay for itself within three months and the company has been impressed with the ease of installation and after sales support. The 3D printer is also simple to maintain. Swaddle notes that his team are able to fix minor technical difficulties themselves, although he admits these have been rare.

Swaddle concludes, “After the hoped-for benefits of speed, accuracy, reliability and durability were realized, it was the intangible benefits that really became noticeable. We always estimated that the 3D printer would enable us to make more parts. However it is the extent to which having the 3D printer in-house helps to remove any ambiguity and clarify our engineers thinking, thus expediting the decision making process that is really the greatest benefit. The Dimension 3D printer is an invaluable communications tool. That is what contributes to us being the best on the market and keeps us at the forefront of innovative design.”

Our Locations


Irvine Headquarters
16842 Hale Ave.
Irvine, CA 92606
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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

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  • 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