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Company
The company’s DNA is rooted in F1, with over 60% of its staff having 6+ years of F1 experience. They leverage their extensive F1 know-how to drive innovative use of lightweight composite structures and advanced simulation capabilities. Their core areas of excellence include composite design, mechanical engineering, systems integration, and structural/FE analysis, incorporating the latest techniques in design optimisation.
Industry
Motorsport, Defence, Automotive, Marine, Renewable Energies, Aerospace.
3D printing products
MGI Engineering utilises Ultimaker printers, 2+ Connect, S3 and two S5’s. They used the Cura slicer and digital factory from the ultimaker ecosystem. Cura is desktop software that can be downloaded free of charge from the Ultimaker website and is available for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Why 3D printing?
3D printing enabled rapid turnaround of parts for this project, which proved invaluable for the company’s fast-paced development and continuous design improvements. The ability to quickly modify details and produce parts in minimal time was ideal for their dynamic workflow. Additionally, having in-house printers allowed MGI Engineering to maintain greater control over production costs.
Results
MGI have seen amazing cost savings of up to 90% (depending on the part size and material). Turnaround was exceptionally quick. They printed parts in house in a fraction of the time compared to lead times that outside companies quoted. Another benefit is that MGI were in control of print settings and quality.
“Knowing we were going to prototype parts, we needed in house capabilities to stay away from out of house manufacturing which comes with larger costs. We went to 3DGBIRE and they aided us to how best to approach printers and how to go about selecting printers to match our requirements.”
Software
MGI Engineering Ltd. utilized Ultimaker’s Cura slicer, benefiting from its extensive range of settings that accommodated various print requirements. Their printers were integrated with Ultimaker’s Digital Factory, enabling seamless part management. Both Cura and Digital Factory offered user-friendly interfaces with minimal setup, being part of the Ultimaker ecosystem. Digital Factory allowed direct part uploads from Cura, simplifying the creation of a print queue for the machines. Additionally, prints were easily monitored via the website or mobile app, with built-in cameras on the S5 printers providing real-time visual oversight.
“There are a huge amount of printers on the market, and 3DGBIRE aided us in the selection and how to get started with our printers. They supported us with the printers and educated us with the process. Our company requires quick turnaround of parts and if there are any issues, 3DGBIRE are always quick to respond with an answer. We purchased filament through 3DGBIRE who have an excellent range of materials.”
What printer/s
They originally had an Ultimaker 2+ Connect, before pairing it with an S3. They used two Ultimakers S5’s, and the 2+ Connect and S3 as back-ups for when there was a larger quantity of parts to be printed in a short period. These printers were incredibly reliable and easy to use. They had enclosures helping print in colder weather, and the material station allowed simple change of material from one part to the next. The S5’s had a wide range of material which they could print.
What material
For most prints, MGI Engineering used Ultimaker’s Tough PLA due to its ease of use, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. For parts exposed to heat, they switched to ABS or Nylon because of their higher heat resistance. The quality of the materials significantly affected the print results, and they observed that Ultimaker’s Breakaway support material tended to adhere better to ABS and Nylon. For more complex parts, they used PVA support, which provided excellent results with only occasional issues with their prints.
Software training available from 3DGBIRE
Become a certified, proficient Ultimaker user with our software training. Maximise the potential of your Ultimaker with one of our trained Ultimaker professionals. Our courses come with a training manual so that you have a reference guide after the session.
About 3DGBIRE
At 3DGBIRE we aim to provide a 360 degree service, we don’t just supply the most innovative 3DGBIRE certified Additive Manufacturing equipment we offer personalised consultations, training, technical support and even a print bureau service, to enable you and your business to get the most from these groundbreaking technologies. We believe that the key to the successful adoption of 3D printing is dependent on the integration of machines, materials, software, workforce training, technical support and in depth consultation to harness the knowledge of our many industry experts to develop the correct solution for your business. Call 3DGBIRE, and speak to one of our engineering experts today.
