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3D scanning of parts is a widely known technique in the industrial sector, especially when it comes to quality control in manufacturing processes. In our case, we use a 3D laser scanner to obtain three dimensional models of items wich we do not have the drawings. Once the laser scanner has produced its scatter diagram, we process the data to create a high-quality CAD file that can be then 3D printed with our equipment. This full process, which uses the part itself to create its drawings and CAD file, is known as reverse engineering.

One of the most popular uses of 3D printing is the manufacturing of single units or short-run plastic or metal items. Among the various advantages of 3D printing is that no tooling or mounts are required for the manufacturing of 3D parts in plastic or metal. This means designers are able to quickly iterate and validate their designs, reducing the time it takes for products to reach the market. 3D printing technology and the postprocesses used at Addimen result in the production of fully functional parts in record time.

Industrial processes are increasingly more flexible and versatile, meaning that the variety of spares available is often almost infinite. Additionally, the cost and shipping times of some spares can be high, meaning that these are a fixed warehouse item for many companies. In other cases, some industrial machines are so old that there are no longer any manufacturers of the spares. In these cases, 3D printing can offer unique solutions to make industrial processes even more efficient. As the original part was designed to be manufactured by conventional methods, it is important to carry out an adaptation and validation process of the printed spare.

One of the great benefits of 3D printing with metal is what can be done to the inside of the parts. Using 3D metal printing in mould inserts with plastic or aluminium injections is one of our specialities. Our conformal channel or conformal cooling designs optimise the cooling of the mould resulting in shorter cycle times, more temperature homogeneity , and a reduced number of quality defects.

This service uses 3D printing or additive manufacturing as another lean manufacturing tool with the aim of reducing halts in production, increasing process efficiency, and improving process safety. Thanks to the wide range of industrial processes we are exposed to, we have extensive and varied experiences when it comes to the resolution of production problems related to poorly designed process tooling, made with unsuitable or too heavy materials.