Getting it right the only time

Citation

Loughlin, C. (2000), "Getting it right the only time", Assembly Automation, Vol. 20 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2000.03320daa.001

Getting it right the only time

Getting it right the only time

In this issue we revisit rapid prototyping and it is interesting to see the progress that has been made in both materials and technologies since we last covered this subject (as a major theme) over three years ago (AA Vol. 17,No. 3).

This is now a mature technology that is capable of providing real tangible benefits for a very wide cross-section of manufacturing industries. However, I expect that a good percentage of potential users are simply not considering RP as part of their product development cycle.

One problem perhaps is that before you can get into RP you need to have embraced the world of 3D computer aided design in order to have the data files that the RP machine needs to create the part. Going truly 3D is hard and it is easy to see why.

All manufactured parts are 3D, even sheet metal stampings have thickness. However, if you look at the great majority of engineering drawings, what you will see is a collection of 2D views that show side, plan and end elevations. We may be making 3D parts but we are still thinking in 2D. It is hardly surprising that we frequently find problems when we join these parts together to create an assembly.

These days product development has to be done quickly. Take too long and your competitors get to market first and can recover their development costs during a honeymoon phase of premium prices. Getting to market second leaves you fighting for a slice of the cake and with diminished profit margins. So you have to get there first, but you also have to get it right. The phrase "getting it right the first time" should perhaps be "getting it right the only time", because there are rarely second chances.

All too often I see products being developed under crazy time scales and the result is always, and I do mean always, less than satisfactory and ultimately far more costly in terms of development time and money than if a more relaxed and carefully considered approach had been taken.

Coming to terms with these two conflicting scenarios is of course a matter of balance. And getting that balance is where rapid prototyping can really help.

It does take a lot of investment in terms of money, time and people to fully embrace 3D computer aided design. And you only get the benefits of 3D, or even just 2D, CAD if you do fully embrace it. Use it occasionally or in a less than rigorous manner and you will simply miss out on 90 per cent of the benefits. However, if you do make the effort, and plan to include rapid prototyping within the product development cycle, then you will reap the benefits in terms of improved quality and reduced overall manufacturing costs, and still get to market first.

Clive Loughlin