Malcolm Nicholls Ltd utilised 3D printing and 3D scanning technology to reproduce and 3D print trophies – 18 replica trophies to be exact! For an Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship-associated golf tournament.
An exciting project that saw Malcolm Nicholls Ltd utilise 3D printing and 3D scanning technology to reproduce 18 3d Print trophies (replicas) for an Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship-associated golf tournament.
On the Abu Dhabi golfing circuit, the Falcon Trophy has long been synonymous with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The Pro-Am tournament serves as a supporting competition which precedes the main event. Event organisers wanted smaller versions of the Falcon Trophy to award winners of the curtain raiser tournament and briefed isodo3D about producing 18 quarter-size replicas, six for each of the next three tournaments.
Isodo3D worked along with Malcolm Nicholls Ltd when they found that the most cost-effective and non-compromising method was to print the falcon and golf ball and then hand turn the wooden plinths. A HP 3D Structured Light Scanner Pro S3 was used to scan the trophy and create the data required to print the trophy. Using our latest SLA technology a master model was printed.
With the growing demand for Low Volume Production also known as low volume manufacturing and small batch production Malcolm Nicholls Ltd can produce 1 – 1000’s of parts.
If you’re looking for a one-off bespoke top-quality part such as a trophy, or you require 1000’s customised parts such as widgets, we have the solutions to suit your needs.
It is an increasingly popular option as it allows for a smaller investment in tooling and materials while providing fast access to the market. It also acts to bridge the gap between initial prototypes and mass production.
Historically, manufacturing components in low quantities has always been a costly exercise. With the advent of 3D printing and vacuum casting many constraints previously faced can now be significantly reduced. Technologies such as SLS (Stereolithography) and FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) can now be used (especially for non-seen parts), to produce components in quantities as low as 1s and 2s and up to thousands, but still with exceptional material properties such as flame retardancy and high-heat requirements. Traditional design constraints, usually associated with injection mould tooling for example, can now be ignored enabling designers to be more efficient and reduce part count within assemblies.
We can produce anything from one to thousands
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Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) utilised our 3D Printing technologies and low-volume manufacturing to produce 3 series of batons for the One Run for Boston
Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) a well-established 3D Printing and prototype model-making company, who have been producing high-quality prototypes for over 50 years, were delighted to lend its services free of charge to such a worthy cause. MNL were approached due to their reputation for the quality of product and service. In 2014 MNL produced the first series of Baton, and over the last few years, MNL has produced 3 series of batons for the relay races across America.
Like most of the world, three friends in England were horrified to watch coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15. The three runners wanted to do something positive so they organized a California to Massachusetts relay race to raise money for bombing victims. The majority of funds raised will benefit One Fund Boston, whose organizers live in England but weren’t deterred by distance.
The relay, which started June 7th in the L.A. area, ends June 30th in Boston.
“When something like this happens, it doesn’t matter where you’re living — it just packs a hard punch,” says Kate Treleaven, 34, of Devon County, England.
Despite the distance, marathoner Treleaven and fellow runners Danny Bent and James Hay were determined to bring something positive to the sorrow. The result: One Run for Boston, a relay race across the United States that has attracted more than 1,000 runners and raised, so far, almost $50,000.
The money goes to One Fund Boston, the charity that helps those most adversely affected by the bombing. Three people died and more than 260 were injured.
“We thought, ‘How could something so awful happen to a group of people who were doing something so wonderful?’ “, Treleaven said. “It was a need to purge that hideousness and basically bring things back to a happier equilibrium.”
The trio settled on dates and mapped out a route using Google Maps and MapMyRun, an app for runners. A friend in art school created an Olympic-style torch with a GPS tracking device so the public could follow the relay on the OneRunforBoston.org website.
The concept baton was originally produced using 3D printing on a Stereolithography (SL) machine by Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL), also based in the UK. MNL is one of the longest-established service providers of 3D printing parts and components and has been using the technologies for the best part of 20 years. MNL has donated its time and expertise to this worthy cause.
Urged by the success of the first relay the fundraising organisers staged another relay race to raise yet more funds. The 3328-mile relay across the USA is a 300+ stage relay run where sponsored runners carry the Boston Baton from LA on the west coast to Boston on the East coast of America. This year the month-long relay was timed to finish one week before the start of the Boston Marathon which would mark the 1st anniversary of the horrific event.
United Relay of America is the first-ever triple coast-to-coast charity relay setting off from Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles and meeting in New York City! Three routes from the West to the East coast of America, hundreds of runners and cyclists and one aim: inspire, empower and connect people across America – to not just be part of relay history, but to be united for a better world! One of the beneficiary charities was, The We Are Here Movement, founded by Alicia Keys. Funds donated to the We Are Here Movement are split equally among the We Are Here charity partners so your fundraising efforts help a wider range of causes than ever before!
The design of the baton originally emulates a Lily a symbol of peace.
For each design of the baton, the initial stage was to 3D print via Stereolithography on one of their (SLA5000) machines at MNL. The batons consisted of an assembly of a variety of components using different materials. Once the 3D prints were built, they were given to MNL’s highly skilled finishing department. The finishing department starts with the removal of visible layers and then will work with the surface of the model up to the point of the required level of finish such as a perfect high gloss. The finished baton “masters” were to be used as patterns for MNL’s soft tooling process; Silicone tooling. From these tools a series of castings were produced, predominately in an ABS durable material in gloss, some were translucent white and some clear and tinted. The 3rd series of baton also consisted of elastomers giving a tactile grip. To give the baton a completed look graphics were applied to depict the route, logos, etc.
All of the batons also needed to be illuminated for nighttime running, and GPS trackers were fitted internally so, at any point of the run, the sponsors could monitor their location from the website.
For the internal components, unfinished 3D printed Selective Laser Sintered (SLS) parts were produced. Multiple batons were produced from silicone tooling for each stage of each race.
The variety of colours, materials and textures and quality of finish in the Batons is a great showcase for the capabilities of the fantastic team at MNL.
We can produce anything from one to thousands
.
When approached by a leading supplier of machines that produce canning/food machinery, we were asked to produce a 3D printed exhibition model not only to produce a scale model of a machine but to also make it semi-function. The Third-Scale model was to represent a 4-metre long canning machine. It was to be able to demonstrate the unique selling points of the machine at a forthcoming trade show in Europe. With so many moving parts, the accuracy of the process and model were imperative.
The primary stage for MNL was to work on the 3D CAD data, when you scale a model down to such a small scale factor some elements can be lost – made so small they disappear, these would then need to be scaled at a different factor. Even simple nuts and bolts had to be re-drawn. As an example, a half-inch thread at 1/3 scale becomes 1/6th inch. this had to be altered to the nearest metric equivalent to prevent the necessity of producing non-standard bolts. Over 200 man-hours were spent working with the CAD, MNL wanted to ensure that what was produced or rectified was correct so many 3D PFS was created to show the end customer the design intent. As many sub-assemblies were to operate (albeit manually), once again MNL turned to the CAD to communicate with the customer, illustrating which assemblies moved, and be what extent. Animated movies were produced and sent to the customer to once again demonstrate the intended movements of the model.
Once 3D data was approved the manufacturing processes started. Many larger components were CNC machined from ABS for accuracy, strength and durability. Some components were produced via SLS, whilst the rubber items were made from silicon tooling. The chain was made in one assembly by connex machinery.
Vibrant colours were used to draw attention to the model at the trade show. The different colours illustrated the various areas and USPs of the design and function of the machine. MNL suggested having the sides of the model in clear acrylic to show internal components and how they function.
Once the model was completed a purpose-built plinth and flight case were produced so the model could be shipped worldwide without the worry of it getting damaged. Then to finally finish the model a Perspex cover was produced.
Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) produced an eye-catching set of conceptual 3D Printed Vacuum Metalizing taps for their own purpose at a trade show.
The taps were designed in-house using SolidWorks. Once finalised 3D data was complete, these taps were 3D printed via MNL’s Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machine in a PA Nylon.
When printed the taps were then hand-finished to a perfect gloss by MNL’s highly skilled finishing department, and then a subsequent process called vacuum metalizing was used to give a chrome look to the taps.
The concept taps were finished with Vacuum Metalizing and are now proudly on display in our reception of our Head Office many clients and visitors comment on the look and feel of the taps – they are pretty impressive!
As high-quality models were required; Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) was called upon to put its 40-plus years of experience to the test.
A leading product design company approached MNL to 3D print a child’s snowboarding helmet and finish it to the highest level of gloss. Both the helmet and visor frame were 3D printed using MNL’s Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) process, once they were built both the helmet and visor frame was given to MNL’s finishing department. Our team got to work to achieve the perfect gloss finish with lots of hours needed to be spent on the model to firstly get rid of the build lines, smooth the surface and work through all the grades of sandpaper. It’s not a process that can be rushed especially when you have a reputation for perfect finishes (no pressure).
The helmet shown here (MNL’s own for exhibition purposes) was finished in a perfect gloss black, as were the customers. The visor pictured here was finished differently to the customers’ requirements, giving that sci-fi look with vacuum metalizing.
Viper SLA 3D Printed Golf Trolley Case Study – certain projects have been selected from MNL’s Rich History, this one comes from 2005
“Golf Europe” is Europe’s comprehensive golf show, exclusively for suppliers and buyers in the golfing world. PowaKaddy, the world famous market leader in golf cart technology had a substantial stand in the Munich show back in October of last year(ed 2004). It was at this show that they unveiled their latest powered golf cart, the P5™ prototyped using the Viper SLA.
The plastic components on the show carts were all produced using advanced prototype technologies at Malcolm Nicholls Limited. 3D printed Stereolithography (SLA) masters were produced using the size advantage of MNL’s SLA5000 coupled with intricate detailing that the Viper Hi resolution SLA machine offers. The two technologies were used side by side to manufacture hybrid masters. “MNL typically replace detailed areas such as those found on product logos with a piece produced on the Viper SLA machine” explained Ross Nicholls, MNL’s General Manager. “The Viper gives us excellent detail, clarity and crispness. Quality is what this company was founded on; The Viper helps us to maintain our high standards” Nicholls continued. The highly-skilled model-making team were able to apply the same surface finish to the masters as that found on the rest of the PowaKaddy product range. Silicon tooling replicated these masters resulting in a total of eight sets of polyurethane castings that closely simulated the injection moulded components. The consistency in surface finish was matched with the consistency in accuracy. “We used to have to tweak most of the prototype parts that other RP companies supplied to us; however since using Malcolm Nicholls Limited we simply assembled the plastic prototypes to the tubular framework” explained Lee Manvell, New Product Development Design Engineer at PowaKaddy. The completely new handle design was prototyped using another of MNL’s tools. The handle seen in the photos is a nylon Selective Laser Sintered (SLS) component, produced on the HiQ Sinterstation. The SLS parts were finished and painted to match the other components. A textured rubber-like skin with golf ball dimples was over-moulded onto the SLS handle. Once again SLA masters were produced to facilitate the silicone tools required for the over-moulding.
PowaKaddy sell into more than 50 countries, and following the show, the carts have toured the world visiting their various resellers and distributors.
Functional prototypes have also been produced of various accessories including an SLS umbrella holder in Glass-filled nylon. “These parts were fantastic; they were so strong we were able to treat them like production mouldings.” concluded Manvell. PowaKaddy have put their prototypes to good use; including production assembly trials, photographic shoots for sales & marketing literature and of course the excellent fully functioning sales aids for the trade show in Munich.