3D printing got started off as an alternative to the traditional prototyping. It is faster, more economical, has its application across various industries and now it is closer to the average consumer much more than before. This young start-up called 3D Station is a 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping studio aspired to provide all types of prototyping solutions using various technologies along with excellent designing services. Incorporated in the year 2017, it has its head office in Pune and its branch office in Aurangabad. So let us find out how this magic works with the founders of 3D Station Mr. Aditya M. Wadekar (PGD Additive Manufacturing – COEP & CMTI ), Mr. Prasad S. Borde ( B.E. – Mechanical, BAMU) and Mr. Swanand S Anandgaonkar ( B.E. – Electronics, MU ).
Mr. Aditya, for whom his final year college project of building a 3D printer which turned into a full-fledged hobby and now career, says, “We work with various R&D and product designers to help them visualize their product. Previously, in order to create mock-up design of a product, it used to be very time consuming. But with the advent of 3D printing, prototypes can be created in a day so that necessary changes of fitments can be made and the client can have a look and feel of the actual product in their hand”.
Services they offer include:
·Prototyping – Highly accurate prototypes and batch production using 3D Printing, vacuum casting, FRP (fibre moulding).
·Product Development – After understanding idea, product is designed considering every necessary parameter and further it is checked with a prototype.
·Reverse Engineering and 3D modelling – Part is scanned an industrial scanner to achieve accurate design further it is modelled as per requirements.
In its initial days, the main challenge 3D Station faced was to make clients aware of this technology because mostly in the manufacturing sector, they are reluctant to go for new technology and prefer their traditional methods. In order to gain the customer’s trust, 3D Station creates unique sample prototypes for the clients whom are not possible to manufacture by the traditional methods and the quality of the mock-ups is at par with the final product. They arrange 3D printing workshops for the clients so that they can be educated about the possibilities that can be achieved through this technology. Utmost attention is given to the quality of the printed product because it’s the final product. A team has been put in place to just keep a check on the finishing of each parts of the product. Lots of shrinkage tolerances have to be considered while printing. Therefore the finishing of the product should be of high quality so that the assembling can be executed properly.
Within the next five years, Mr Aditya is hoping that 3D printing will create a lot of buzz in every industry. Mr. Aditya highlights, “Companies are investing ample money on R&D and design of the product. 3D printing is enabling them to make their prototypes within a day so it is quite advantageous for such companies to utilize this technology to bring the product in the market by shortening the product’s life cycle to the market”.
Mr. Aditya’s draws inspiration from people of every walk of life. His advice to young start-ups, “Do a proper study and don’t hurry into it. Gather enough experience and knowledge before taking the plunge”. 3D Station is a result of lots of personal experiences during his college and internship days.
The benefit of working with 3D Station is that the design is checked thoroughly, the product undergoes a fitment test since the aesthetic and physical appearance of the product is of utmost importance, the product is manufactured in 2 parts and joined perfectly during post processing, special attention to the design aesthetics and they always have a display model. Some of the prototypes they deal with are customized cases for packaging /Embedded systems/ IOT as prototypes and end use product for batch production, prototype of customized medical kit, human miniature models also known as 3D selfie as personalized gift for friends, guests and corporate executives, customized models as trophies, branding / marketing / client’s meet models, educational models for demonstration so that students can see the concept instead of only visualizing it and architectural models is one of the widely used application of 3D Printing.
With the help of prototype, design is updated for mass manufacturing. All the critical and time consuming parts are manufactured by 3d printing while other parts are made up of acrylic with laser cut technique. 3D Station works with the manufacturing industry, product designers, big companies for customized gifts or branding model, corporate gifting firms, architects, builders and developers and educational institutes.
3D printing can enhance product development, transform traditional production methods, enable direct digital manufacturing and facilitate personal fabrication. It is used for mostly prototyping and it is cheaper to make most large volume consumer goods than using traditional methods. From 3D printed automobiles to 3D printed human miniature and medical kits, 3D printing is definitely a force to reckon with. Slowly but steadily major companies are anxious to try these new advances which are launching technology into a new era. As rightfully said by Steve Jobs, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become”.
