Introduction
As a small, fast-growing SME, we have already helped hundreds of customers with their 3D projects.
First and foremost, we hope to contribute to a more sustainable world. All too often we have to throw away everyday items because a part breaks or gets lost. With 3D printing, we can cheaply make a new part.
Another possibility is personalization. With our parametric designs, we can create something unique for you.
3D printing is of course also widely used for rapid prototyping. Do you have a new design but want to test some prototypes before moving to mass production? We can print these prototypes for you.
As one of the first 3D scanning, design and printing services in Antwerp, we have a rapidly growing customer base.
Technologies Used
Design
For our own designs, we mainly use openscad. This is an application where models are not drawn but programmed. This is an essential difference from other companies. Our models are therefore managed as software. This offers several advantages:
- Parametrization: This means that the models can be easily adapted to customer needs. A different color, text, dimension, etc. is very simple. This contrasts with a traditional 3D drawing program like blender.
- Exact: The exact dimensions are in the code, our accuracy is only limited by our hardware and this is very accurate (tenths of a millimeter).
- Adaptability: Want it a millimeter higher or lower, we just change 1 line of code.
- Reproducible: Each version of each model gets a unique identification number. If you want another print of the same model later, this is always possible.
- Extensible: We can use the countless software libraries that exist for openscad. This allows us to create fairly complex models in little time. For example, threads etc.
Scanning
We can scan your objects in high resolution, from small to large (up to 60 cm). Our scanner uses a two-camera system and a motorised turntable. It is a purely photo-based system (no projected patterns or LIDAR), resulting in high-resolution scans down to 33 micron XY resolution.
Printing
There are various techniques for 3D printing objects. We choose Fused deposition modeling, the most widely used technique for 3D printing.
We have multiple professional printers with a layer height of 0.05 to 0.35 mm and a maximum print volume of 340 × 320 × 340 mm. Our printer fleet includes both open-frame and enclosed printers with a heated chamber, allowing us to work with PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PC, PA and carbon fibre reinforced materials.