High–Spec Design Engineering Streamlined at Harmon Becker
Balancing design efficiency with technical output demands precision design engineering.
"There is a real 'touch and feel' element to our business," notes Project Engineer Robert Emmanuel. "Manufacturers demand aesthetics, even when what we have developed will be hidden within the car system or behind walnut or plastic. We are delivering casings and speakers for world-class brands and they expect the very best look, fit and feel."Medical Inc.
Harman Becker Automotive Systems is a specialist loudspeaker producer for in-car entertainment systems. Its South Wales design and engineering team is dedicated to developing speaker systems that both are aesthetically pleasing and also produce exactly the right sound quality and integrity that audio system providers specify.
Customer demands often constrict design phases, and deadlines are even more stringent with one-off custom design solutions. As a result, the Harman Becker team is left with tight timelines to produce prototypes, test and project-manage production, and deliver the final product on time and on budget. Before integrating the Dimension 3D Printer into their development process, the team used outside suppliers for rapid prototyping — which often ate up between seven to ten days of valuable and already squeezed time.
The Dimension Solution
The Harman Becker design team sought a quick, effective and, above all, high-quality solution for developing functional 3D models. They demanded ease of use, replication that captured the quality of their designs and, most importantly, a robust output material that would not fracture, distort or require too much refining and cleaning up prior to fitting.
Running twenty-four hours a day, the Harman Becker design team agrees their Dimension 3D Printer is simple and reliable to use. As Robert Emmanuel explains:
Running twenty-four hours a day, the Harman Becker design team agrees their Dimension 3D Printer is simple and reliable to use. As Robert Emmanuel explains:
Dimension 3D printing can help you quickly fine tune designs and cut weeks — even months — from your development schedule. Now you can test form, fit and function and explore as many design iterations as you like — over your network, right from your desktop.
An essential tool for everyone on the design team
Karim Rashid: Communicating Design with 3D Printing
From furniture and lighting to cosmetic products and packaging, Karim Rashid is a high-profile industrial design firm with an esteemed reputation for communicating a contemporary view of the world through its unique designs.
The firm's 10 designers use Solid Works 3D software. Until recently, designers relied on outside sources and an internal workshop to
The firm's 10 designers use Solid Works 3D software. Until recently, designers relied on outside sources and an internal workshop to
"With a good model, we can remove any ambiguity for clients and expedite the decision making process," Rashid said. "Dimension allows us to narrow in on a design solution much more quickly, and as a result, better serve our clients. The precision of the models Dimension creates is so exact, we are able to present something very real to clients almost immediately — an invaluable communications capacity."
Recently the firm completed a new line of kettles and barware for Copco Kettle Company that will be sold worldwide through Moma stores, Conran's and Target. The collection includes 18 new products all designed using Dimension. "We were even able to get the threads on the corkscrew models we designed to work using Dimension," Rashid said.
create foam models — a process that was time consuming, lacked precision, and ultimately hindered their ability to communicate designs.
After an extensive analysis of technologies, Karim Rashid selected the Dimension 3D Printer to create functional models out of durable ABS plastic. Karim Rashid used Dimension to generate more than 180 designs in its first six months of use, and 230 total projects last year.
After an extensive analysis of technologies, Karim Rashid selected the Dimension 3D Printer to create functional models out of durable ABS plastic. Karim Rashid used Dimension to generate more than 180 designs in its first six months of use, and 230 total projects last year.
Exploring and Communicating Designs
"We design, plug in the coding, orientate the image, send it down and in just ten clicks we are off to the races, knowing that in a matter of hours we will have a top spec output which can be mounted in a trial vehicle, shown to the potential owner, signed off and in production in a matter of days."
Margins have improved and efficiencies are up. Emmanuel comments, "The machine paid for itself in a matter of weeks. An excellent result all around."
Dimension 3D printing can help you quickly fine tune designs and cut weeks — even months — from your development schedule. Now you can test form, fit and function and explore as many design iterations as you like — over your network, right from your desktop.
An essential tool for everyone on the design team
Tekpro Provide Solutions That:
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