Maximizing Production Efficiency
with 3D Printing

By using 3D printed tools, jigs, and fixtures, Volkswagen Autoeuropa reduces cycle time operation, labor, and the need for reworking, while improving tool ergonomics. Furthermore, they achieve this at a tenth of the usual cost. The company estimates that they saved over $400,000 in 2017 while achieving a 91% cost reduction and 95% time savings.

Before incorporating 3D printing technology, Volkswagen spent an average of $980 per part. Now, it's costing them an average of $26 per part. And because they no longer have to work with external suppliers, the average project duration for developing a new part went from 56 days to 10 days.

Read the full case study here. 

3D Printing Final Parts for
High-Value Snow Machines

Snow Business uses their Ultimaker 3D printers for prototyping, functional testing, and creating final parts for their snow machines. In-house 3D printing significantly speeds up their iterative design process and yields considerable cost savings along the way.

Each design iteration used to cost an average of $153 and took an average of 7 days. Using Ultimaker 3D printers, each iteration now averages $3 and takes an average of only 7 hours.

Read the full case study here.

3D Printed Car Components
for Time and Cost Savings

3D printing has enabled Tucci Hot Rods to produce customized car components that are used to modify and build custom vehicles for their clients - all to exceptionally high design standards and in much less time than was previously possible.

3D printing has allowed the Tucci team to speed up and refine the entire production process, from design and testing, through to production and post-processing. Tenfold savings have been made in producing test part iterations, which in turn, has encouraged greater creativity and raised production standards of custom aftermarket car components.

Read the full case study here.

Introducing the Ultimaker S5

The Ultimaker S5 is Ultimaker's most advanced 3D printer, designed with professional users in mind. Ultimaker 3D printers have established a solid reputation in the 3D printing community for being exceptionally reliable. Moreover, backed by Ultimaker North America Support, business users can expect maximum uptime and return on investment. Features include:

  • Larger build volume: 330 x 240 x 300 mm (13 x 9.5 x 11.8 inches)
  • Glass doors in front included, integrated
  • Full LED touch screen
  • Filament flow sensor
  • Hardened components suitable for more abrasive materials
  • Adaptive, enhanced bed leveling

Know Your Materials

There are lots of different materials available for use with desktop 3D printers. Here is a summary of the more common materials and their uses.

Material Summary Notes Use Cases
PLA Easy printing. General purpose. Somewhat brittle Concept models
Tough PLA Tough like ABS, easy to print like PLA. Strong and easy to print Concept models, prototypes
ABS Strong, rigid, functional prints with mechanical properties Requires more expertise Manufacturing Prototypes
CPE Strong, chemical resistant material with some flexibility Easier to print but less rigid than ABS Bike joints
CPE+ Strong, chemical resistant material with some flexibility. Increased strength and temperature resistance compared to CPE. Use when CPE is not strong enough Heavier machine joints
Polycarbonate Strong and tough material with good shape retention under higher temperatures Requires Advanced 3D Printing Kit Molds, lighting
TPU-95A Versatile, flexible, high impact strength, wear and tear resistant Both rubber and plastic qualities RC wheels, sneaker soles
Nylon Durable, flexible, abrasion and corrosion resistant. Widely used. Sensitiive to moisture Fasteners, gears
PVA Water soluble support material for complex geometries Bonds with PLA, Nylon and CPE Objects with deep cavities or large overhangs
Breakaway Material Breakaway support material. Designed to leave a smooth surface finish without the need for post-processing. Bonds with ABS, PLA, Nylon, CPE, or CPE+ Objects requiring supports


The 3D Universe Manufacturing Collection

The following products tend to be popular with our manufacturing customers. Included in this collection are our most reliable and high quality 3D printers, a variety of useful materials, and related accessories.

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