Down and Dirty with Additive Manufacturing – Think twice before slamming that toilet seat!

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Down and Dirty with Additive Manufacturing – Think twice before slamming that toilet seat!

Written by Steven Murphy – SolidXperience Applications Engineer

 

We are always striving to find new ways to leverage the flexibility of additive manufacturing, so when a toilet seat hinge decided it had been slammed for the last time there was only one thing to do!  

After modeling up the bracket in SOLIDWORKS, I couldn’t stop thinking if there was a good way to know if a 3D printed component was going to be strong enough? Conventionally, 3D printed components have a bad reputation for being brittle. So with nothing to lose, I dove into SOLIDWORKS Simulation: The Results?

The first thing I looked at was comparing a conventional 3D printing material such as ABS to the Markforged Nylon White materialand the results are pretty straightforward (let’s just say if I don’t want to be remaking this part again in the near future – I used the Nylon White!) 

 

also approximately simulated using the Markforged continuous fiber material with the chopped carbon fiber thermoplastic Onyx– but it was frankly overengineered. Once I realized that I was designing the bracket for a professional weightlifter to “clean and jerk” lift with the seat at 8,000N of force, I decided it was time to move on to printing the original Nylon White design 

Drop the STL model into the MARKFORGED Cloud EIGER software, and it is ready to be printed! And even though I simplified the simulation process with assumptions, the worst-case scenario is I have to reprint the part for a couple of hours!

 

 

And just like that, I replaced a household component in no time. Take a look at the end result: 

 

 

Additive manufacturing is reshaping the way that conventional device repair works- by decreasing the time waiting for parts, you can get back to the truly important tasks in life. And that applies to machines and fixtures just as much as it applies to a toilet.

 

For more information on our Simulation software solutions or our wide range of 3D printers and materials, contact an Xpert today!

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    The CAD Leader – SOLIDWORKS

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    The CAD Leader – SOLIDWORKS

    SOLIDWORKS has dominated as a staple software for engineering and design across the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries for over 2 decades by making 3D CAD affordable and accessible without sacrificing utility or power. Let’s take a closer look at what SOLIDWORKS really is, why it has been the strongest industry-standard in digital product design and engineering, and how its massive community supports you through your entire design cycle, no matter the size of your business.

    “It is clear that SOLIDWORKS is focused on empowering customers to innovate and design, without software getting in the way.”

    —Michelle Boucher, Tech-Clarity

     

    What SOLIDWORKS Does and Why It Works

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    Also, with a legacy of dedication to training and supporting its users, SOLIDWORKS helps customers develop market-leading products while continuing to invest 80% of revenue back into its development. Did you know? Each annual update release for SOLIDWORKS has 200+ new enhancements with over 90% directly resulting from actual user feedback!

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    With SOLIDWORKS you’re never alone. With millions of users across the globe in every industry imaginable, we’ve seen it all and there is no problem that the passionate SOLIDWORKS community can’t tackle together. As a SOLIDWORKS user you get access to an extensive network of benefits and resources, at no additional cost:

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    Fun fact:  Over 2 million students graduate with SOLIDWORKS training every year!

    The Total CAD Package

    Enjoy a competitive edge with the right tools built-in to help you make better decisions that lead to greater ROIs. As a product design solution, SOLIDWORKS does more than a 3D model with precision and speed. Take your investment even further with the capability to:

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    Download our SOLIDWORKS: The CAD Leader white paper for a snapshot of the statistics that make SOLIDWORKS the go-to solution for the world’s 3D CAD needs. You can even reach out to our experts for more information or to request a free demo.

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