As demand grows for extra agile and cost-effective manufacturing strategies, additive manufacturing is more and more seen as a viable answer for end-use components — not simply prototyping. NECO, a contract producer specializing in high-performance purposes, is making use of this shift to drone manufacturing by combining 3D printing with a streamlined digital workflow.
In partnership with HP Additive Manufacturing Options and Autodesk, the corporate has built-in HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) expertise and Fusion 360 software program into its operations. The result’s a sooner, extra versatile strategy to manufacturing that helps each inside improvement and customer-driven design.
HP Jet Fusion 5600 Collection 3D printing answer, that includes printer, processing station, and construct unit. Picture courtesy of HP.
Transferring Previous the Limits of Injection Molding
Earlier than turning to additive manufacturing, NECO confronted acquainted challenges related to injection molding. Excessive tooling prices restricted the variety of design iterations, and conventional processes made it tough to provide the forms of geometries required for superior purposes. These constraints had been particularly noticeable in NECO’s work with UAVs.
By adopting HP’s MJF 3D printing platform, NECO was capable of cut back upfront prices and remove tooling altogether. This shift additionally made it attainable to provide extra complicated half geometries—equivalent to inside lattice constructions and built-in venting — that had been beforehand cost-prohibitive or technically unfeasible with injection molding.
Digital Workflow Integration with Fusion 360
Alongside the transfer to MJF, NECO launched Autodesk Fusion 360 into its design and construct course of. Not like typical CAD software program that always requires managing separate recordsdata for assemblies and elements, Fusion allows NECO to work on complete assemblies in a single atmosphere. In keeping with NECO president Rob Collier, the software program was additional personalized with assist from Autodesk to raised align with the corporate’s particular workflow wants.
This integration has helped streamline product improvement and enhance communication with prospects. Shoppers can ship NECO full meeting recordsdata, offering perception into how components match collectively—info that’s helpful when getting ready components for additive manufacturing.
UAV Design and Efficiency Advantages
NECO’s work in drone improvement gives a transparent instance of the affect of its up to date course of. Drone fairings and structural components are actually printed with built-in lattice designs to assist warmth dissipation and enhance strength-to-weight ratios. The power to fabricate these options instantly—with out secondary tooling—has shortened improvement timelines and supported sooner iteration.
Using HP’s 3D Excessive Reusability PA 12 and PA 11 supplies ensures the printed components meet the sturdiness and consistency requirements wanted in aerospace and UAV purposes. NECO stories that its MJF-printed components have handed important burn assessments and are appropriate for end-use, not simply prototyping.
NECO’s 3D printed drone. Picture courtesy of HP.
Scale and High quality at Quantity
Since adopting additive manufacturing, NECO has produced over one million 3D printed components, spanning each drone elements and different industrial purposes. The corporate’s capability to scale with constant output has helped it serve a broader buyer base — together with startups in search of to carry merchandise to market rapidly, in addition to established companies searching for agile manufacturing companions.
The pliability of NECO’s workflow permits it to assist two essential approaches: reproducing customer-supplied components and collaborating on new designs based mostly on practical necessities. In each circumstances, the corporate makes use of its additive capabilities to cut back manufacturing bottlenecks and speed up supply.
NECO’s 3D printed drone. Picture courtesy of HP.
Evolving Position of Additive in Manufacturing
The collaboration between NECO, HP, and Autodesk displays a broader pattern in manufacturing: the shift from additive as a prototyping software to a reliable choice for production-scale purposes. For NECO, the mixing of MJF and Fusion 360 has improved responsiveness, opened new design potentialities, and supported the manufacturing of high-performance drone components on demand.
As drone techniques grow to be extra complicated and the necessity for speedy, versatile manufacturing will increase, additive manufacturing is anticipated to play an excellent bigger position. NECO’s mannequin—centered on consistency, customization, and design freedom — highlights how producers can modernize their operations with out sacrificing high quality.
Subscribe to Our Electronic mail Publication
Keep up-to-date on all the newest information from the 3D printing trade and obtain info and affords from third social gathering distributors.
Add your 3D Fashions and get them printed rapidly and effectively.
