Ánima Design is an international design and product development agency created in Barcelona in 2002. Its mission: to turn its clients’ ideas into successful products on the market. If you also add more than 50 international awards, including two Red Dot awards – considered the Nobel prizes of design – it is not surprising that some of its clients include Grupo Roca, Tefal, Almirall, Siemens, Black+Decker, Vieta and Repsol.
Challenges and objectives
1
Shortening time-to-market
Ànima Design is committed to including 3D technologies in its processes because they greatly reduce development times. In a matter of hours they can verify and optimize the design, make different iterations and changes to improve the product. This gives them a lot of speed and a great differential value.
2
Reduce production costs
Having powerful, reliable and low-maintenance equipment means savings. Time is money, and in the case of Ànima, internalizing processes and even production, has meant that they can amortize their printers very quickly saving all the hours and cost of outsourcing services to third parties.
3
Design without limits
Traditional methods such as molds or machining limited the creative process. The emergence of 3D printing/additive manufacturing opens a new path and a new way of designing. Today, applications or products can practically be presented to the customer and even sold as they come out of the machine.
Solution and support from 3DZ
From Ànima Design, and thanks to 3DZ’s consulting work, they have adopted a total of 4 3D printers + 2 post-processing solutions, with 3 different 3D technologies:
Resin technology with 3D Systems’ Figure 4 3D printer: ultra-fast and affordable for prototyping and small batch industrial production with high-quality, durable and precise materials.
SLS technology with Formlabs’ complete Fuse 1+ 30w ecosystem, a unique solution that offers an optimized end-to-end work process, from preparation to finished parts, with the 3D printer, the Fuse Sift post-processing station, which combines part extraction as well as powder recovery, storage and mixing in a single device and the Fuse Blast, the fully automated and easy-to-use cleaning solution for post-processing of printed parts.
FDM technology with Markforged’s Mark Two, the carbon fiber composite 3D printer to manufacture parts with the strength of aluminum from your office desk.
“When we have needed to decide on a technology, 3DZ advises us on the one that best suits our processes, also taking into account costs, amortizations, the type of materials we will need or how the equipment will fit in our facilities.”
Diego Quiroga – CEO & Founder Ànima Design
The starting point
Resin technology
The “Ànima Process” is divided into the following phases: Research, Design, Development and Engineering, Prototyping and market launch with the manufacturing of the product.
As an industrial design agency, the prototyping phase is a key part because it is when they do the testing during the development of a product. Since 2019, 3D printing is their main ally.
At first, Diego Quiroga, CEO & Founder of Ánima Design, contacted 3DZ to assess metal 3D printing technology. They wanted to print a pen with shades and textures that were very difficult to achieve.
After a consultancy to understand the needs and the most suitable solution, 3DZ recommended resin instead of metal technology, with the 3D Systems 3D printer.
Below, an example of how efficient and productive this 3D printer can be.
Application example for functional pre-series
Medication-spray dispenser: the case of Almirall
THE APPLICATION
Satkam is a medical device that acts as a medication-spray dispenser, making it easier for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to self-apply medication in cases where the disease causes motor difficulties in the hands and/or arms due to spasticity. The precision in the measurements and the resistance of the materials are key in its design.
THE CHALLENGE
To make pre-series and short series while maintaining precision in functionality.
-Reduce the time required to order it from a third party due to manufacturing time and shipping logistics (several weeks).
-Make modifications without having to go through the above-mentioned process again.
-To be able to print biocompatible materials.
-Save costs associated with tooling throughout the entire phase prior to final manufacturing.
THE SOLUTION
3DZ, presents the advantages of implementing, in this case, both wire technology and resin technology, and Ànima incorporates it as follows:
-The Mark Two technology of Markforged in a first phase and the Figure 4 technology of 3D Systems in a final phase for finishes, and for speed.
-The independence of producing short series with the same technology used in the development.
-More competitive solutions than silicone molds in terms of speed, finishes and materials.
“We chose the Figure 4 technology for its finish and speed, as well as the detail and precision of the clipping and mechanisms with very reduced dimensions and tolerances, which made the difference for a perfect operation, which was key in a device where the dosage was critical”.
highlights Diego Quiroga – CEO & Founder Ànima Design
The qualitative leap
Sintering Powder Technology
In the quest to improve productivity, to be independent and to gain freedom also during the design, development and engineering process, 3DZ proposed the SLS technology from Formlabs, as it provided many of the keys and the best price-quality and speed.
“With the Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30w, we make a quantum leap in the prototyping phase. Mainly because we can make large parts with a very high quality finish, with shapes, details, which until now could not be achieved, and with materials with high resistance, which allows us to make very interesting functional prototypes.”
Diego Quiroga – CEO and Founder of Ànima Design
Example of a precise and functional application
Exoskeleton printed on PA 12
Thanks to its balance of strength and precision, powdered Nylon 12 is an extremely versatile material, suitable for both functional prototyping and the production of complex assemblies and durable end-use parts with high environmental stability.
In the photos, Diego shows us the printer, the prototype in the post-processing station, and the finished product, an example of the kind of precise and functional application that can be achieved in 24 hours thanks to the powerful 30W laser of Formlabs’ Fuese 1+, and high-performance materials such as the PA12 used in this case.
The Fuse Sift, an integrated workstation that combines part removal, as well as powder recovery, storage and mixing in a single device, is extremely convenient and compact, ensuring the best functional efficiency available in the selective laser sintering market because it prints with virtually no waste, reducing the cost per part while being an environmentally friendly technology.
“Traditional methods, such as molds or machining, limited the creative process. The emergence of 3D printing/additive manufacturing opens a new path and a new way of designing.”
Diego Quiroga – CEO and founder of Ànima Design
FDM Technology
To complete the 3D lab, Ànima has a mini 3D printer farm from Markforged.
The 3D printers Mark Two, also allow the production of high quality prototypes in an extremely fast, simple and economical way, essential features to experiment with alternatives or to verify every functional, aesthetic and design aspect, avoiding delays and errors.
“In addition to choosing low-maintenance machines, we have constant support from the after-sales team. If there is any kind of incidence, having an assistance at the moment is very important.”
Concludes the CEO and founder of Ànima Design.
3DZ, your 3D printing expert
At 3DZ we are distributors of the best brands of printers of different technologies: this allows us to offer companies support in choosing the solution that really suits their needs.
Application example for functional pre-series
