FDM 3D Printer Design And Development

The 3D printer project was an early design and production collaboration with a startup company. When this startup approached us, they urgently needed us to create a prototype for them within a short time frame for crowdfunding on Kickstarter. We responded swiftly and met their needs within a week, ultimately helping them successfully raise $500,000 on Kickstarter.

The client was very satisfied with our cooperation and manufacturing capabilities and wished to continue working with us. They entrusted us with the production of all plastic components inside the printer, including the larger casings. We improved upon the client’s design by reducing weight and hollowing out the injection molded parts to ensure the design was suitable for injection molding processes. The mold development and sample production went very smoothly. However, we encountered difficulties during the surface spraying process. The client wanted two black decorative strips on the product casing, but during the spraying process, it was easy to accidentally spray black plastic powder onto other white areas, which was difficult to remove. Ultimately, we used adhesive tape on the areas that did not require spraying, removing the tape after spraying, which, although slightly cumbersome, ensured the quality of the finish.

After resolving the spraying issue, the client proposed that we take over the entire production process, including the plastic parts and some CNC machined components, while integrating other parts like circuits and motors through their current or our supply chains. We were also responsible for assembly, testing, packaging, and directly shipping the finished products to the client’s distributor warehouses for sale. This request also reflected the deep trust the client had in us.Developing and producing complex new products like 3D printers is full of challenges. Throughout the production process, we encountered several issues, including:

1. Supplier material issues. Due to small initial quantities, some suppliers could not meet our quality or delivery expectations.
2. Assembly precision issues. Some initial designs were overly idealistic, making assembly difficult and reducing yield rates.
3. Delivery timeline issues. As the client was a startup, they often underestimated market demand, giving us insufficient production time, which increased our costs and lowered yield rates.

As the product went to market, we continued to monitor issues during production, actively listening to consumer and client feedback, and making reasonable suggestions for modifications. This not only improved product quality but also effectively reduced costs. The product’s yield rate increased from an initial 78.3% to 99.82%, and costs were reduced by 45% from the start.We clearly understand that our goals align with those of our clients: to provide high-quality products to end consumers and ensure the successful market launch of developed products. This is the core of our “[Turnkey Solution Service](/turnkey-solutions)” philosophy.

저자 소개

Alex Yu

아이디얼 프로 매뉴팩처링

알렉스는 Ideal Pro의 공동 창립자이지만, 주요 프로젝트를 총괄하거나 기술 팀을 이끌지 않을 때는 장거리 자전거 타기를 즐기거나, 동네에서 가장 맛있는 커피를 찾아다니거나, 다음 여행 계획을 세우는 모습을 볼 수 있습니다. 국제 무역 영업과 프로젝트 관리 분야에서 20년 이상의 경력을 쌓아온 그는 촉박한 마감 기한부터 까다로운 엔지니어링 문제까지, 그 사이의 모든 상황을 다 겪어보았습니다. 그는 훌륭한 성과는 충분한 휴식을 취한 마음과 맛있는 커피에서 나온다고 믿으며, 맡은 모든 프로젝트에 그와 같은 호기심과 세심한 주의를 기울입니다. 사무실에 있지 않을 때는 대개 야외 어딘가에서 새로운 장소를 탐험하며, 나중에 나눌 이야기를 수집하곤 합니다.