CREAT3D Case Study
USING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CNC MILLING
"3D printing is an essential part of our product development process at Astro Lighting. We have been 3D printing, in-house, for the last 15 years. The cost and time saved because of this technology has been beyond measure.”
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Rob Speck, Engineering Manager, Astro Lighting
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> ABOUT ASTRO LIGHTING
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Founded in 1997, John Fearon and James Bassant came together to create Astro with a shared commitment to British lighting design and a passion for quality and precision. Astro’s creative ethos has remained consistent throughout – that good design demands simplicity. Astro design all of their light fittings in-house, and bring a large number of new designs to market each year.
> PROCESS
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The prototype for Astro Lighting’s Altea 360 LED wall light combines two materials on the Formlabs Form 2 SLA 3D printer: White resin for the Altea diffuser and Grey Pro resin for the Altea body. Combining the printed white resin diff user with a working light fitted between the two printed parts, allowed the team to replicate the diffusion of light through the model.
Prior to bringing additive technology in-house, the team at Astro Lighting would have used CNC milling to fabricate this working prototype. The printed assembly was produced as per the final production part with a much shorter lead time, giving the ability to rapidly test fi t, function and assembly.
3D PRINTED
LIGHTING PROTOTYPE
TRADITIONAL FABRICATION
Cost of £800 for the full assembly, using CNC milling
3D PRINTING
Cost of £25 for the full assembly
COST SAVING
97% cost saving
TIME SAVING
Lead time reduction from 2 weeks to 22 hours (93%)
