Material development is a key focus for rapid prototyping companies. ”Increasingly, engineers want to use parts produced by a rapid prototyping system in their production applications,” noted Patrick Hunter, vice president, sales and marketing, Quickparts, “especially as more prototyping material manufacturers make materials that are production grade.”

Through the use of video and audio recording, along with the collection of critical environmental data such as depth, temperature, velocity and acceleration, the Crittercam displays the animal’s point of view to the scientific community.

The application, however, still drives the choice of material, which drives the choice of prototyping system. For example, the National Geographic Crittercam design team wanted to develop a smaller, lighter camera model that would incorporate the latest technology for audio and video. But they needed a special part to achieve their goal.

When National Geographic’s Crittercam required a new part, it turned to Quickparts. The Crittercam is a research tool worn by wild animals that allows scientists to study their behavior without the interference of a human observer.

After some investigation, the team decided that a custom Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) part made from Duraform PA, a durable nylon based material, would serve multiple purposes and allow them total design freedom. The part needed to brace and center the controller board that was already connected to the back plate, and serve as the supporting structure for the camera mounting. They only needed a small quantity of parts, and were hoping for delivery within a week or less.

The team uploaded their files to the Quickparts website and within minutes received a quote. Said Graham Wilhelm, mechanical engineer, “Quickparts delivered on time. They offered good lead times and pricing, and I appreciated the top-notch customer service. The engineers were not afraid to call me for clarification or questions about any and every aspect of the design and I welcomed that, because I know I’m will receive exactly what I need, when I need it.

“We had our SLS parts in hand within days,” continued Wilhelm. “And by creating direct digital manufactured parts, we saved money by not having to get them tooled. Plus, we were able to install them immediately.”

The 3D printing process allows the National Geographic team to continuously improve existing Crittercams and prepare for cost effective future versions.

Quickparts
www.quickparts.com

MPF