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John Martin Design Associates - Working with 3T

3T RPD has developed a highly effective and close working relationship with John Martin Design Associates, a leading edge design company, providing mutual clients with a fast service in a sector that offers opportunities to those who seek innovation, fast time to market and true customer support.

From the customer brief JMDA evolves a design through concept sketches, engineering development, CAD modelling, prototyping and tool manufacture to finished product and mass production. As the primary supplier, 3T's focus is on delivering rapid prototypes with high levels of functionality, reducing overall development time significantly.

JMDA recently turnkey managed a project for a new door lock system. The Proximity Lock has all the lock and electronics on the inside of the door, away from any possible tampering or weather.

Following full CAD engineering development, the data was supplied to 3T to produce initial sets of parts for testing. Silicone moulds were produced from masters made using both SLA and SLS processes and polyurethane resin models in the chosen colour for the product were made from the moulds. Using AutoCAD Mechanical Desktop 5 design software, JMDA is able to speedily provide accurate, concise STL data to 3T, enabling the prototype parts to be made efficiently and precisely to its exact design requirements. Ensuring that sound and fully engineered data is correct right from the start of the design process means that loss of valuable time and money can be avoided.

Maintaining a close working relationship with JMDA, 3T is able to track the progress of the design and development process, ensuring that information is well defined and clearly presented at every stage.

At the prototype stage of a new floor cleaner, the client was faced with choosing the right prototyping solution. JMDA advised the client about the options to reflect rotational mouldings and castings. The more expensive prototyping option was chosen over other alternatives, thus enabling the client to see the full capability and potential of its product, without compromising functionality due to cost considerations.

The cheapest option would have been a solid wooden block model, which would only have given a visual demonstration. CNC machined parts would have been slightly more expensive but, having considered with JMDA all the options available to them, the client decided upon a Laser Sintered prototype costing almost double that of the wooden option.

Produced by 3T in a very short time, the SLS model gave superior quality and features. With total sintering capacity exceeding that found anywhere else in the UK, 3T's typical turnaround for producing a prototype is three to five days from 3D data, with no finishing required. The process gives true mechanical functions such as snaps and screw bosses, as well as true weight for accurate costing. 

With additional painting and finishing facilities the parts were completed to a very high quality and a true representation of the production parts. The client was extremely pleased and impressed with the service and model supplied.

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