Product category:
Fast prototyping equipment, pattern-making and services
News Release from: Stratasys | Subject: FDM 400mc machine at Gordon Murray Design
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 April 2008
Design firms adds on digital
manufacturing
To strengthen its automotive business a design company has added on a digital manufacturing and prototyping system to enhance accuracy, repeatability, material properties, speed and flexibility.
Gordon Murray Design has purchased a Stratasys FDM 400mc machine to help bring to market the company's first automotive design project, code-named T25 The Stratasys FDM 400mc direct digital manufacturing and prototyping system offers enhanced accuracy, repeatability, material properties, speed and flexibility
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 7 Feb 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Prototyping/production system is 'entry-level'
An additive fabrication system for prototyping and direct digital manufacturing is designed for users with demanding applications that require accuracy and repeatability, but not high speed.
Drives reduce maintenance costs for extruder
One of the world's largest manufacturers of industrial plastics products has reduced its maintenance costs and increased output on its extruders for plastics water and gas pipes.
Innovation in hardware and software increases precision in the deposition of plastics, said Stratasys to manufacturingtalk.
The machine will be used in the design firm's Prototype Workshop to build multiple components for automotive design and tooling, for example interior instrument parts, trim panels and fittings, exterior components, wind tunnel model parts and parts for running test vehicles.
The machine will enable Gordon Murray Design to reduce the costs and lead times associated with the production of prototype parts, enabling projects to be delivered quicker and more effectively.
Further reading
SLA machines build transparent prototypes
A Sheffield-based rapid prototyping company has made the first rapid prototypes using resins, with transparent build and ABS properties, on its stereolithography machines.
Polymer combined with PTFE in cylinder head gasket
German manufacturer STE has developed a new cylinder head gasket using a powder coating process that combines Victrex Peek polymer and PTFE.
Polymer enhances aircraft seat safety
A polymer has replaced a magnesium alloy in a range of functional seat components for both commercial and military aircraft.
In addition, the Stratasys FDM 400mc uses thermoplastics that have identical properties to the company's proposed end-use materials for its T25 project.
Gordon Murray Design, launched by automotive industry expert Gordon Murray in 2007, recently announced the T25, an innovative design for a new personal transport vehicle.
Described simply as 'a new class of vehicle', the T25 will use innovative architecture and packaging to facilitate low cost manufacturing and to reduce running costs dramatically.
"Prototyping forms a large part of what we do, and we felt that having an in-house rapid prototyping capability was vital from the outset," said Gordon Murray, CEO of Gordon Murray Design.
"Ease of use and installation were key for us in the decision-making process but so was the excellent reputation of Stratasys within the industry.
This has been demonstrated in their commitment to forging an ongoing business relationship with us.
Although our principle focus is design, development and prototyping, we are also keen to experiment with the machine in the future to explore some of its manufacturing capabilities".
Managing director for Stratasys, Europe, Tim Heller, commented: "Gordon Murray has an outstanding reputation in the automotive industry and we are delighted to be working with him at Gordon Murray Design.
Without the Stratasys FDM 400mc the design team would have been forced to outsource designs for projects such as the T25.
With so much of the project under wraps they were not prepared to risk the security of their intellectual property.
We look forward to helping the team as they bring this and future ground-breaking designs to life".
The sale was managed by Stratasys' UK distributor Laserlines.
* About Stratasys - Stratasys, Minneapolis, manufactures additive fabrication machines for prototyping and direct digital manufacturing.
It also offers prototype and part manufacturing services.
According to Wohlers Report 2007, Stratasys supplied 41 percent of all additive fabrication systems installed worldwide in 2006, making it the unit market leader for the fifth consecutive year.
Stratasys patented and owns the rapid prototyping process known as fused deposition modeling (FDM).
The process produces functional prototypes and end-use parts directly from any 3D CAD program, using ABS plastics, polycarbonate, PPSF, and blends.
The company holds more than 180 granted or pending additive fabrication patents globally.
Stratasys products are used in the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, education, electronic, and consumer product industries.
• Stratasys: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
