Reed says he knew his group needed a 3D printer to address its concept model challenges based on research it had conducted several years ago. "We were one of the first large companies to take a serious look at 3D printing," Reed recalls. "At the time we were not thinking about early concept models and evaluated the technology more for producing finished industrial design models. As we became more active with CAD and transitioned from hand-made to digital models, we realized that 3D printing technology represented the best solution for addressing our growing conceptual modeling needs."
After evaluating 3D printing systems from the leading vendors, including 3D Systems, Objet Geometries and Stratasys, the company selected the ProJet CJP 3D printer. Black & Decker chose the printer because it was the fastest 3D printer, affordable in terms of initial purchase and ongoing material costs, and easy to use.
"We wanted a system that was faster, more cost-effective, and less specialized than our CNC mills, so our designers could use it themselves," Reed explains. "The ProJet CJP not only had high speed but was also simple to operate. The machine is very easy to set up, and the software is very straightforward. Our designers have really embraced the printer and are producing more concept models faster than ever before."
Reed says the ProJet is so easy to use that when two new designers joined the company, he showed them how to use the system once and they have used it productively and independently ever since.
"With the ProJet CJP, our designers can knock off several concept models during the early stages of the design process, which enables them to improve the look and feel of our products and avoid costly surprises later on," Reed stresses. "While a design may look good on the computer screen, there is really no substitute for actually holding something in your hand."