RedEye Australasia is Australia's largest FDM build centre, and part of Stratasys and RedEye On Demand worldwide - the world’s leading rapid prototype and parts builders. Facilitated by RapidPro in Melbourne, RedEye On Demand Australasia produces high quality thermoplastic parts and prototypes by employing the latest in Rapid Prototyping technology … Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM).

A true direct digital manufacturing solution, FDM easily converts 3D CAD files into fully operational working parts using a range of engineering thermoplastic materials, such as a 140+ degree C polyphenylsulfone and pc/iso, a material approved for medical applications (ISO 10993-1).

Managing complex part geometry with ease, FDM removes prior design limitations and tooling constraints producing high quality, fully repeatable parts in one piece. And because FDM prototypes are working parts, it streamlines product development, getting finished products to market faster. It is a tue Direct Digital Manufacturing solution with online instant quoting.

RedEye On Demand - The Factory of The Future

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Streamlining Aerospace Tooling with FDM

Advanced Composite Structures (ACS) repairs components for planes and helicopters, and manufactures low-volume composite parts for the aerospace industry. A typical job might include repairing a helicopter blade or building an aircraft camera fairing. Tooling is often a big portion of a job's cost, including layup tools to create composite parts and fixtures for drilling.
In the past, CNC machining weighed down ACS with heavy costs and lead times. The typical tool cost around $2,000 to make and required eight to 10 weeks. If the tool wasn’t perfect the first time around, the process began again.
So ACS streamlined by moving all of its tooling production to a Fortus 3D Production System, as available through Redeye on Demand Australasia, which creates durable, lightweight plastic jigs and fixtures directly from a CAD file through Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). It now takes about two days and $400 to produce a typical tool, meaning ACS trimmed one of its biggest expenses by 80 percent. Plus, reworking a component is less of a setback.
“FDM has helped us substantially improve our competitive position,” said owner Bruce Anning.
To read the whole story of ACS’s low-volume manufacturing success, click here.