3D Printers - machines that produce physical prototypes quickly, easily, and inexpensively from computer-aided design (“CAD”) and other digital data are developed, manufactured by Z Corporation in USA. Z Corp.’s 3D Printers are used by companies to make prototypes ranging from toys for market feedback to fan blades for functional testing. In the same way that conventional desktop printers provide computer users with a paper output of their documents, 3D Printers provide 3D CAD users a physical prototype of real world objects such as a mobile phone, an engine manifold, or a camera.

Z Corp 3DPrinter provides users a means to automatically build appearance prototypes from their 3D CAD designs quickly and inexpensively compared to alternative costly and labor-intensive methods. For example, a mobile phone design can be turned from a screen image into a prototype in less than an hour for less than $10. By using appearance prototypes early in the product development cycle, design engineers can receive critical feedback early in the design process. Z Corp 3DPrinters confirm market acceptance of new designs before the production process even begins, eliminating costly last-minute changes and enabling companies to be the first to market with their products.

Z Corporation stands poised to change the way people design products and communicate, in the same way that low cost ink-jet and laser printers changed the way we use computers. Its technology advantage and proven management make Z Corporation uniquely able to develop the billion-dollar market for 3D Printing.

Household appliance manufacturers use Z Corp. technology to speed and improve their intense design cycles, getting better products to market faster.

Leading Z Corp. Customers include

Black & Decker
Pelican Products
Robert Bosch

Problem

The design of household appliances requires not only accurate 3D models to communicate design concepts to internal and external customers, but a series of functional test parts to assess critical performance attributes early in the design cycle. Exposure to elevated temperature, moisture, airflow and vibration all combine to present demanding environmental conditions that many early stage concept models fail to withstand.

Internal Communication Z Corporation 3D printers enable design teams to efficiently iterate on product concepts early in the design process, enabling multiple renditions to be visualized and critiqued by a variety of functional teams within an organization.

Presentation Models Z Corp. parts can be finished in a variety of ways to yield high quality surfaces. Exact replicas of production models can be used to solicit focus group feedback on proposed new features. Half-scale models of products can be built and transported to customer sites for evaluation, frequently eliminating the need to ship actual production units.

Functional Testing Utilizing Z Corp.'s range of infiltration resins, manufacturers achieve application-specific functionality to gauge performance criteria. Infiltrated parts can be machined, drilled, and tapped. Additionally, infiltrants can be used to significantly improve the durability, humidity resistance and high temperature properties of Z Corp. parts during airflow, vibration and other rigorous environmental tests.

FEA Analysis The ability to print parts in full color enables engineers to quickly understand the material stresses on their designs. Z Corporation parts can be printed in over 2 million colors, highlighting potential weak points well before parts reach tooling development.
　

 

Z Corporation 3D Printers are capable of creating early stage concept models of any complexity directly from digital data, quickly and inexpensively. A typical part can be printed in a few hours.

Z Corp. Customers

Cleveland Golf
General Motors
Millipore Inc.

Problem

Communicate Internally Z Corp. 3D printers enable design teams to efficiently iterate on product concepts early in the design process, enabling multiple renditions to be visualized and critiqued by a variety of functional teams within an organization.

Perform Iterative Design Quick, inexpensive models make it possible to print multiple pieces during the course of a project and use the models not only to present, but also as part of the creative process.

Communicate with Clients Functional appearance prototypes are useful in solving problems and obtaining agreement on a design direction.

Communicate Across Distances Z Corp. parts can be sent to key contributors, providing more concrete data than a screen shot or paper printout.

Identify Problems Early Z Corp. parts provide a fast and efficient way to identify issues and challenges with a design very early in the process.

Achieve Consensus on a Design A physical model allows members of the design team to fully understand the pros and cons of design concepts, making the consensus process easier.

Perform Ergonomic Testing Quick and inexpensive concept models allow designers to test the ergonomics of the design and conduct shape studies in the industrial design process.