At Reata, we’re always seeking new ways to improve our services and provide our customers with the best possible results. Our recent investment in 3D printing technology represents a significant step in the right direction.
Let’s explore how our new printers—the Formlabs Form 3 and Bambu X1 Carbon—enhance our capabilities and serve our customers’ needs.
Versatility in Prototyping and Production with Our Formlabs Form 3 Printer
The Formlabs Form 3 is a resin printer that leverages stereolithography (SLA) technology. It efficiently cures resin layer by layer, allowing us to produce parts with both hard and soft properties, depending on the material used. This versatility means we can print a wide variety of prototypes and end-use components.
Accurate Prototypes
One of the primary value-adds of this 3D printer is its ability to produce final prototypes for our customers before they move to full-scale production. This allows our customers to visualize what their part will look like, including its surface finish and scale, so they can make informed decisions about design adjustments early in the process. These prints are accurate, reliable representations so customers know precisely what to expect from their finished products.
In-House Custom Masking Solutions
Masking can be a time-consuming process, often requiring coordination with outside vendors. This printer has expanded our in-house masking capabilities by enabling our team to print custom masking plugs, thus reducing lead times on products that require masking.
The flexibility of this printer also allows us to create softer plugs, which are better suited for filling holes in more delicate parts. Many other 3D printers don’t offer this ability and are only suitable for more rigid masking solutions.
Greater Customization with Our Bambu X1 Carbon Printer
This desktop printer offers another layer of versatility: it can print using up to four materials simultaneously, opening the door to a range of design possibilities.
One of the most valuable applications of the Bambu X1 Carbon printer is its ability to create custom inspection tools. These tools are particularly useful in our painting processes. By using 3D printing tools that match the exact specifications of the tight-tolerance components we’ve produced, we can ensure that our painters meet the necessary precision requirements before the part is sent for final inspection. This eliminates any back-and-forth between departments and reduces the likelihood of rejections, streamlining our process and ensuring that high-quality components reach our customers faster.
Putting Cutting-Edge Technology to Work for Better Customer Results
At Reata, we are hyper-focused on serving our customers as efficiently as possible. Our investment in 3D printing technology is just one way we stay at the forefront of customer service. Whether we’re producing prototypes, manufacturing end-use parts, or creating custom tools, our 3D printers enable us to be more proactive in addressing potential issues and delivering the high-quality products our customers have come to expect from us.
Reata’s investment in 3D printing has opened up new creative possibilities that go beyond traditional machine shop capabilities.
- One standout example is a recent project involving rubber grommets, which are notoriously difficult to machine. Using our 3D printer, our team created a custom fixture to hold these grommets in place, then froze them in liquid nitrogen to stabilize the material for machining. As a result, Reata could machine multiple grommets quickly and efficiently, something we couldn’t have achieved—cost-effectively, at least—years ago.
- Another customer required a plastic part that was no longer available for purchase. Using our 3D printer, Reata recreated the part and produced a lifetime supply for the customer. This ability to reverse-engineer parts and manufacture them in-house not only saved the customer time and money but also demonstrated our commitment to finding creative solutions to complex problems.
Continuing to Evolve for Your Success
Our new 3D printing capabilities serve as a testament to Reata’s commitment to innovation and responsiveness to customer needs. As technology continues to evolve, we’re eager to see how our team can continue expanding our offerings to better serve our customers.
Request a quote from Reata to discuss your next project and discover how we can leverage our advanced contract manufacturing solutions to meet your complex requirements.