Grazie alla stampante A2v4 di 3ntr, l’azienda bergamasca ET realizza prototipi funzionali e stampi di pre-serie per componenti termoformati in materiale espanso. I risultati sono ottimali sia sul fronte delle tempistiche, sia su quello dei costi.
We are literally surrounded by them: they are expanded and thermoformed materials. From chair padding to backpack padding, from accident prevention protectors to medical bandages, from bath sponges to yoga mats, the list is potentially very long. In this sector, ET srl is a point of reference for the quality of the products it creates and for the technological innovation it is able to offer.
As is now the case in all highly competitive markets, however, it is necessary to constantly improve one’s approach by exploiting the most advanced technologies. And thanks to 3D printing, ET is now able to cut prototyping times and costs and thus reach the production phase more quickly.
Faster and more efficient
ET uses 3ntr’s A2v4 printer for several purposes. The first is linked to the creation of functional prototypes, useful for quickly verifying the geometric characteristics of the parts to be made. Furthermore, it is appreciated for the construction of the pre-production molds necessary to obtain very small series of parts. “The first contacts with 3ntr date back to 2016: it was mainly an interest related to research and development activities, but as time passed we realized that the collaboration between us could also be useful to resolve problems related to the timing of some suppliers”, explains Gloriano Galleani, Project & Purchasing Manager of ET. “To create the pre-production moulds, typically in wood, resin or aluminium, we relied on a series of mouldmakers. However, it was often necessary to wait several weeks to get the prototype: too long for a market that now chooses suppliers not only for the quality of what they create, but also for the delivery time. With 3D printing we have made a notable step forward from this point of view, because to obtain what previously took up to three weeks we now only need two or three days.”
A2v4, high quality for large format 3D printing
La stampante 3D A2v4 è pensata per rispondere alle esigenze di aziende impegnate in ambito industriale, che cercano qualità, affidabilità ed efficienza. Con un volume di stampa di 600x325x500 mm, questo modello è in grado di accogliere sia pezzi di dimensioni importanti, sia centinaia di piccoli elementi contemporaneamente. In ET la stampante A2v4 viene utilizzata per realizzare parti a supporto del processo produttivo, come l’oggetto finale per una valutazione estetica o per realizzare il relativo packaging, oppure per creare stampi di termoformatura utili a realizzare i pochi pezzi richiesti da una pre-serie.
“Instead of spending thousands of euros on the construction of a test mold, we offer our customers the possibility of reducing the investment to a few hundred euros to obtain the same result and in less time,” adds Galleani. “We recently added a work center to the 3D printer: in this way we can choose the most suitable technology based on the project. Naturally each one has different times, costs and characteristics, but an indisputable advantage of 3D printing is the total autonomy of the process: once started, the machine works until the end of the printing without having to be supervised by an operator“.
A reliable and easy-to-use additive system
Using 3ntr printers proved simple for ET operators. After a practical course provided during the installation of the machine, the activities did not require further training.
“Part of the credit also goes to the accompanying software, which we recently updated to the latest SSI 2024 release,” concludes Galleani. “We import the STL drawings from our CAD and the SSI software takes care of carrying out calculations and optimizations. For our part, it is sufficient to enter some parameters, such as the type and percentage of filling, to obtain the pieces with the desired characteristics. Since the machine and software are both developed by 3ntr, there is no risk of running into compatibility problems. We simply perform nozzle cleaning and axis calibration when necessary. A piece of advice that I believe could be useful to those who, like us, do not print large quantities of material and therefore consume the spools slowly is to also purchase dryers: over time the filament can absorb humidity and show deterioration in its physical characteristics. It’s a small investment and pays off quickly.”
