Cases
Magics is a tool we cannot live without at RedEye RPM
By Tim Thellin - Product Manager -RedEye RPM
"If you can't read or fix your customers' files, they will take their business elsewhere. In our industry, customer satisfaction, quality parts and short deliveries are critical, and Materialise' Magics application helps us meet those demanding requirements".
In the rapid prototyping and rapid manufactured parts service business, we deal with problem files on a daily basis. Having the right tools is critical to meeting our customers' needs and converting customers' quotes to orders.
Even though rapid prototyping (RP) has been around for a while and most CAD packages now export 'water-tight' STL files, we still run into problem files all the time. Often files are from older CAD versions or come from emerging industries, such as architecture, where they haven't quite ironed out their export to STL issues. In our business, if we can't read in the customer's files, then we don't get their business.
The RedEye RPM team utilises Magics for STL verification, STL fixing, splitting large files and converting files from multiple formats.
Verify your STL file before processing
Every STL file that is built on our equipment is run through Magics RP to verify the file's integrity. Before we had Magics, there were times when we would process and build parts, only to find out just before we were ready to ship that there was a problem with the file. At that moment we'd have to explain to the customer why his part couldn't ship on time. Our coordinators would have to start from scratch, editing the errors and running the part all over again.
Verifying STL integrity is so simple with Magics. In the 'Part Fixing Information' tab, simply click on 'Update', and Magics analyses the file very quickly. After the analysis we get information on inverted normals, bad edges and number of shells.
Save time using Magics' Autofix capabilities
If there are problems with the files, the Autofix feature works great for fixing most, if not all, of the errors. This feature alone can save us hours otherwise spent manually fixing files. That's important because, in many cases, if we can't fix the customer's files, they will send their business to a company that provides that service.
Import multiple formats
In the rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing service industry, we need to be able to accept various file formats in order to provide quotes for our customers. Even though we prefer and require an STL format to start a job, frequently customers send us files in other formats. In the past we would have contacted the customer and explained that the STL is the only format we can accept. In many cases the customer would simply find another source for his RP needs - one that does take care of file conversions. Even though we offer real engineering-grade plastic materials, if we can't work with their data, we don't get their business.
Cut large parts to fit them on the build envelope
Another feature we utilise all the time in Magics is the Cut & Punch tools. When we get requests for parts that are larger than our build envelope, we don't have to turn it down. In the past we used to split files with fairly simple straight cuts. When joining the finished parts back together, we found it difficult to bond these straight cuts and maintain accuracy. Utilising Magics' advanced cutting features, we are able to create an interlocking mating feature on the individual files, where we can bond the finished parts much more precisely and accurately. One of the largest parts we've built and bonded together was an automobile bumper that measured almost 1m82 in length. We were able to hold the dimensional tolerance within a 0,381 mm over the entire length of the bumper. This speaks well to the accuracy of our FDM technology and materials used, as well as the functionality of Magics' cutting tools to help us accurately put the pieces back together.
Modify and handle designs directly on the STL data
The Label and Boolean tools are really cool. We make tons of samples parts that we give to potential prospects or hand out at tradeshows. We pick some of our coolest STL files and label them with our website URL, logo, and a description of the material. That way, as the companies pass around the parts we've sent, our brand travels with the part. This acts as a kind of viral marketing. We use many of the other tools in Magics for features where our proprietary processing software falls short. For example, our measuring tools are fairly weak. With Magics we can measure any feature or dimension directly on the STL file. We've even had a couple of instances where our own slicing software had problems with the STL files, but Magics was able to successfully slice the file. Also, when analysing complex geometries, the ability to section the STL to view internal features is critical to a full understanding of how we should best build the parts.
Overall, Magics is a tool we cannot live without at RedEye RPM. In our industry, customer satisfaction, quality parts and short deliveries are critical; Materialise' Magics application helps us meet those demanding requirements.
RedEye RPM, a business unit of Stratasys, Inc., is a state-of-the-art rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing facility. It utilises high-end rapid prototyping equipment to build CAD designs using durable high-performance engineering materials.