{"id":741,"date":"2021-07-07T10:55:19","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T08:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bone3d.com\/?post_type=blog&p=741"},"modified":"2022-08-03T17:20:14","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T15:20:14","slug":"a-design-and-3d-printing-project-in-3-key-steps","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/bone3d.com\/en\/blog\/a-design-and-3d-printing-project-in-3-key-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"A design and 3D printing project in 3 key steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

march 2021<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project management in 3D printing, as in any other field, means putting in place appropriate processes and tools to succeed and leaving nothing to chance. The prior development of a multi-phase project plan is therefore essential to facilitate its management, limit the associated risks and deliver a quality product within the allotted time.
From A to Z, it is a collaborative process with all stakeholders (clients, teams, etc.), generally iterative, which allows for exchanges, changes and constant improvements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All teams are involved:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  • The sales team, in the front line when the customer’s needs are identified<\/li>
  • The R&D (research and development) team, which guarantees the feasibility of a project and the design of the product<\/li>
  • The quality and regulatory team, which contributes to the marketing of a medical device (MD)<\/li>
  • The production team, responsible for the printing and delivery of the final product<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    More specifically, we will share with you in this article some tips for a successful project through 3 key steps<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Step 1 <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Starting a 3D printing project : a precise identification of the customer’s needs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    When managing a product development project, you need to ask the right questions at the right time. You have to anticipate as many parameters as possible so that you are not surprised when you deliver to the end users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4 essential questions before starting a 3D printing project :<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    • What are the objectives of the project (surgical simulators, anatomical models, medical devices\u2026 here an overview of 3 possible applications)<\/li>
    • What resources (human and material) will I put in place to carry it out? (Purchase of new materials, sharing of tasks with several engineers)<\/li>
    • What is the available budget?<\/li>
    • How quickly can I deliver my product? What are the expected risks (delays due to the supply of materials, project including additional research activity)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      This is why it is necessary to listen to the client’s needs first. Depending on the project, this may be a doctor, industry representatives, director of a training institute etc. The engineers and sales representatives have the ability to adapt their communication to the person they are talking to in order to be able to advise him\/her as best as possible on the product design he\/she wishes to obtain. The team’s role is to guide them towards viable products that are adapted to their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      At the end of this phase, an estimate of the costs will be proposed to the client and adapted if necessary. We will then enter the development phase<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      STEP 2<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Developing a custom product is done with the right 3D printing technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      1 | The 3D development phase in the starting blocks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The project begins with a kick-off meeting to bring together all the stakeholders. At this point, the specifications are validated and we begin to discuss the origin of the input data that we will convert into an STL file<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Depending on the type of project, several sources can be used to obtain the input data:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • Medical imaging (MRI\/CT Scan) when it is a question of reproducing anatomical regions (in the case of surgical simulators for example),<\/li>
      • Optical scan (3D photo) of a part supplied by the customer that he wishes to reproduce,<\/li>
      • Dimensioning of a supplied part,<\/li>
      • Specifications provided by the customer.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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        • Medical imaging (MRI\/CT Scan) when it comes to the reproduction of anatomical regions<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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          • Optical scan (3D photo) of a part provided by the customer that he wishes to reproduce<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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            • Dimensioning of a supplied part<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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              • Specifications provided by the customer<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

                The R&D engineering team discusses and advises the customer at the beginning of the project to determine which input data is most appropriate for the request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Good communication with the customer is maintained throughout the project by exchanging information regulartly. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                2 | The choice of 3D printing manufacturing technology based on the type of product required
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                The technology used will depend on the type of prototype desired, the variety of materials used (single or multi-material) and the time available for printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The different 3D printing technologies available on the market are summarised below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                • POLYJET<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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                  In this process, the photopolymer material is projected onto the print bed and immediately solidified by a light source, usually a UV lamp. This technology is more expensive than others but provides excellent accuracy and detail. It is very useful for producing very realistic products (surgical simulators with multiple colours, textures and hardnesses).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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                  • FDM (FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING)<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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                    This technology is based on molten wire deposition. It is practical for rapid prototyping that does not require high precision and does not necessarily require the use of several materials (multi-materials). However, this type of printing is inexpensive, fast and allows access to a wide variety of materials. This process can be used to produce parts such as small mechanical parts or small medical equipment such as visors, test tube beds, etc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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