Latin-America (Português)
Latin-America (Português)
Case Study

Creating a competitive edge with 3D printing technology.


Branded background

PolyJet technology propels high-requirement prototyping. 

Watertight innovation.

A leader in the field of water-measurement solutions, the Arad Group (Arad) designs, manufactures and sells cutting-edge water meters to residential, bulk, irrigation and water- management companies around the world. The company manufactures more than 500,000 units a year and operates an in-house manufacturing plant using a sophisticated testing and quality-control method.

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To increase its competitive edge, Arad looked to PolyJet 3D printing to help develop smart water meters. Bringing the technology in-house means quickly 3D printing prototypes. More interestingly, it also enables Arad to 3D print injection molds for low-volume runs, which means functional testing can take place with the intended production material and process.

3D printed injection molds.

Demanding requirements govern the design, testing, and production of the watertight components that protect electronics. The ultrasonic welding required to seal the parts together can only be tested on real components in the final material, typically produced using an aluminum test mold or even the final steel mold. These metal molds cost $5,000-$20,000 and take four weeks to three months to produce. If the welding trial reveals needed design improvements, the mold- making process starts again and the cost multiplies.
Water meter in 3D printer

Instead, Arad now creates injection molds using its PolyJet 3D printer. The design includes a step joint for the welding process, which provides high strength and good aesthetics since the welding melt partially encapsulates the joint. The molds are 3D printed using Digital ABS material in four parts: the core, cavity, and two inserts to create the negative draft. The total printing time is just 10 hours.

Water meter on machine

3D printing injection molds enabled us to quickly produce functional prototypes that we could test in the field, dramatically reducing our time to market.

Ready for welding.

After the injection molds are printed, the male and female parts are mounted on an injection molding machine and injected using two different materials for testing: Grilamid TR90 (amorphous nylon) and ABS 757. Once the parts are injected, they are welded together for a watertight fit with the electronic components inside.

 
“3D printing injection molds enabled us to quickly produce functional prototypes that we could test in the field, dramatically reducing our time to market, which is absolutely vital in this competitive industry,” Avi Zelig, Arad Group mechanical engineer, said.
 
By using 3D printed injection molds to produce functional prototypes, Arad has reduced its time to market by five weeks, and its prototype production costs by 80 percent.

Get a first-hand look at how Arad Group can quickly produce functional prototypes to test in the field with 3D printing injection molding, and thus dramatically reducing their time to market

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