3D Printing Services: Additive Manufacturing Compliments Injection Molding
Xcentric provides time critical manufacturing services that address the different phases of customer product launch cycles. Historically our focus has been on injection molded thermoplastic components, however as our customers’ requirements changed and manufacturing technologies advanced, Xcentric has evolved to continue to offer the desired outcome using the best available approach.
Additive Manufacturing technologies:
- Fused Deposition Modeling
- Stereo-lithography
- Selective Laser Sintering
- Selective Laser Melting
- DLP Printing
- PolyJet
- Multi Jet Function
- Binder Jet Printing
Xcentric has perfected the art of producing injection molded components in extremely short timelines, making the decision between additive manufacturing and injection molding predominantly a matter of component cost, surface finish, accuracy, material properties, and productivity. Once molds are produced and set up to run, typically in 5-10 business days, injection molding is extremely efficient and cost effective compared to 3D Printing, and yields parts made in any commercially available thermoplastic material. Where 3D Printed components are produced in hours and tens of dollars per part, injection molding requires minutes and dollars (or less) per equivalent part in validated materials.
At Xcentric, because we offer both families of technology, Additive Manufacturing and Injection Molding, we are able to suggest the best approach for each phase of a product development project. During the ideation, design, and form/fit phases we deliver 3D printed concept models, during the validation and bridge production we can either 3D Print or injection mold depending on the production process, and finally for production we typically injection mold. This flexibility and technology-agnostic approach sets Xcentric apart from our competitors.
Download the datasheet for more in-depth information.