3D printing gave Newtec’s camera component greater strength and lower weight
Fynske Newtec manufactures optical sorting machines as well as packing and weighing machines, primarily for fruit and vegetables – and camera technology is also used for this. For one of these cameras, Newtec needed a lattice structure to hold the optical components, and they chose to design-optimise it for 3D printing during the Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) programme at Danish AM Hub.
In Newtec’s subsidiary, Newtec Engineering, there is a large development department working with various camera technologies – and one of these cameras became part of the 3D-print design optimisation programme, Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), at Danish AM Hub.
Here, Newtec looked at optimising the lattice structure itself, which holds all the optical components on the camera that the company would like to mount on a drone – and weight naturally plays a role in that context.
The challenge with the original component-and all iterations of it-was mainly to keep all the optical components secured, regardless of the camera’s orientation. Rotation in particular is an important factor, and it had been a challenge to design something precise enough to hold everything in place, while also being both rigid and easy to move around and test.
3D printing proved to be exactly the right solution, and the benefits have been particularly related to weight, as the component has become significantly lighter than before because aluminium is used instead of plastic-and for the same reason, strength has also increased markedly. Finally, the economics are also better, as Newtec does not need to have a custom-made component with sufficient strength to support the structure. Specifically, the lattice structure ended up weighing just 143 g, and the volume was reduced by 75.8%, while strength increased by as much as 794%.
“We see quite significant potential in 3D printing – and increasingly so as we purchase more and more printers, because we quickly realise that we can produce components much faster and create many more prototypes. At the same time, the components used in the various machines can also be produced much more cheaply, which is of course extremely relevant.”
Results from programmes with Dansk AM Hub
- Better strength-to-weight ratio
- 75.8% reduction in material usage
- Strength increased by 794% compared with the previous version
- Lower cost than a comparable aluminium component made using traditional methods
About the company
Newtec
Location
Odense, Funen
Number of employees
75–100
Info
Newtec is a leading company in the industry for high-quality weighing, packing and sorting machines. Developed and manufactured in Denmark.
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