How 3D Printing Amazed the Stove Industry
For years the fireplace and stove industry had problems with ‘distance to combustibles’ like wooden beams and chambers but it wasn’t until 3D printing came along and changed the game.
The perfect complement for a traditional log burner, also known as a wood-burning stove is a rustic timber beam above the stove. There is a fire risk with this though, because the rule of thumb is that a timber beam shouldn’t be placed too close to the stove otherwise there could be the risk of it setting alight. This meant people had to place their beam very high above the stove but this didn’t look right. One designer overcame this complication by moulded a timber beam using 3D technology, creating a ‘geocast beam’. This is essentially a non-combustible beam that looks like real wood. The finishing techniques are only getting better, but there wouldn’t have ben this solution without 3D Printing technology.
Printing Brochures – What you need to know
Designing a brochure is a big project and it can often involve numerous professionals such as designers, copywriters, photographers and editors. That’s all before it goes to print though, which is the most costly part of producing a printed brochure.
You have to choose a printing firm that’s right for your requirements whether you need tabs, fancy paper, 200+ pages or foiling, every thing you need should be listed out in advance. There are plenty of printing companies to choose between, but it’s not always a case of going for one that offers the lowest price possible.
Some will offer storage solutions, personalisation, short lead times, good customers services and perhaps even a dedicated account manger. Make sure you weigh up al the pros and cons of each company before you come to a decision you’re 100% happy with. Then you’ll have no regrets.
Portable 3D Printers
It seems like just a few years ago when the concept of 3D printers was first discussed, but the 3D printing industry continues to evolve rapidly. We’re now coming into the wave of portable 3D printers. The Portabee GO has been hailed the ‘the laptop of 3D printers’ and it means that field sales reps can impress clients by producing a prototype of their product on the go. In some cases you’re able to hand your client the finished product, if it’s a relatively small object that is. This device is grabbing the most attention right now as it’s relatively fresh to the scene whilst it’s also extremely compact, but there are many other portable 3D printers out there at great prices. Welcome to the trend of smaller and more compact 3D printers.
3D Printing – The basics
There are many different steps in the 3D printing process, and no matter what some people believe, it’s simply not a case of showing the printer a picture and telling it to go and make it. A 3D printer needs a model to print – a 3D object created as a 3D drawing. The computer recognizes this file type and then ‘slices’ the model into sections, which is printed one on top of another to build the model up from the bottom. For some prototypes or products, there will need to be ‘floating’ sections of a model, and in this case, the printer will build in temporary supports to ensure that even the most complex models can be printed. It’s an extremely clever device and even though 3D printing has lost its novelty factor recently, it’s still an incredible concept and it’s only going to improve over the coming years.
How lasers improved my packaging
I was spending so much money on packaging with my former suppliers, and I didn’t really realise this until my sales dropped and I was forced to shop around. I managed to find a relatively small company that specialised in packaging using laser-cutting techniques. Instead of having product codes, logos or names in printed ink, they marked every cardboard carton with a high-tech laser, and what grabbed my attention was the finished product. I had a prototype created and it didn’t disappoint, whist I was able to move over to 100% recycled packaging. Okay so I probably could have found another printing firm at a cheaper price, but my packaging wouldn’t look quite as cool as it does now. My logo is rather intricate, and I never thought they’d be able to use laser cutting techniques to create the design but I really can’t say I’ve been disappointed.