Some Experiences from Using 3D-printing in the Modelling of a New Product
DS 85-2: Proceedings of NordDesign 2016, Volume 2, Trondheim, Norway, 10th - 12th August 2016
Year: 2016
Editor: Boks, Casper; Sigurjonsson, Johannes; Steinert, Martin; Vis, Carlijn; Wulvik, Andreas
Author: Ottosson, Stig; Skogsrřd, Torbjřrn
Series: NordDESIGN
Institution: NTNU, Norway
Section: Additive Manufacturing
Page(s): 022-031
ISBN: 978-1-904670-80-3
Abstract
In the development of new tangible (hardware) products, creative modelling can be used in the chain from the ideation (idea generation) to the testing of user and customer opinions of new product concepts. Practically seen, creative modelling means to iteratively make and test models – and prototypes - so that the result in the end can be new sustainable innovations that meet a large number of product values. For the development of new complicated and/or complex products, 3D-printing or Additive Manufacturing offer especially useful modelling alternatives.
To test modelling with 3D-printing, this paper describes the development of a welfare product for disabled children. The test contained ideation in different loops until a ready product fulfilling different product values was reached. Some conclusions are that, in this case, the creativity was boosted by the 3D-realization possibilities as there were few limitations in how the product could be designed to meet different demands. The functionality that gradually emerged had been (extremely) expensive and long-lasting to realize with classical prototyping methods as complicated tools in that case had had to be manufactured. With 3D-printing it was easy to make changes for the printing of new models, meaning easiness to change the CAD-model for new 3D-printings. Many iterations meant that a more complete end result was reached. As the surface roughness is not regarded to be good enough for this product, another production method must be used if the product is to be produced and sold.
Keywords: Additive Manufacturing, Modelling, New Product Development, Product Demands, 3D-Printing, User demands