Additive manufacturing for illuminated signage
Additive manufacturing refers to the process based on digital 3D construction data in which layers of a material are laid down successively to create a component. It is known more commonly today as ‘3D printing’. This type of manufacturing technology is now used in a very wide range of sectors and is being implemented increasingly in industrial manufacturing.
As a completely new approach to product design, it offers a high potential for innovation.
Westiform has already been working with additive manufacturing for several years. In addition to the various printing processes, there is a further focus on the selection of materials in order to guarantee the expected quality standards for weather resistance and appearance in the future as well. Westiform wants to take advantage of this potential for its illuminated signage customers by creating products in shapes that have not existed up until now. The areas of application are just as diverse as the shapes themselves. The components can be installed both indoors and outdoors, in showrooms, at a POS, in reception areas, or as technical elements such as cladding, brackets, and casings.
Thanks to comprehensive material tests and an in-house process development, Westiform is now capable of printing large-format components in Plexiglass as well as the usual plastics for fused filament fabrication (FFF). Additional materials in use include PETG, PC, ABS, PLA, etc. The maximum size of the components is 1000 x 750 x 830 mm, with a print resolution of 0.1 to 1.5 mm. The use of a dual extruder allows two colours or materials to be printed.
Your advantages at a glance:
- Free forming for letter bodies and illuminated signs
- Complex geometry with even the smallest batch sizes
- No moulding costs
- Large-format, weather-resistant components
- Advice, 3D data creation, preparation of printing data, and production from a single source
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