GTMA SUPPLIERS AT MACH
Award winning, Shropshire-based Proto
Labs is demonstrating, for the first time
at MACH, the ProtoQuote® and
FirstQuote® online quoting system.
Visitors to the company's booth will be
able to view live, and try out, during
online demonstrations.
Proto Labs claims to be the world's fastest
source for custom CNC machined and
injection moulded parts delivered in as little
as one business day. Since inception the
company has invested unceasingly in both
technology and people, building a worldclass, innovative service for designers and
engineers across Europe.
The online quoting systems, ProtoQuote
(for injection moulded parts) and FirstQuote
(for CNC machined parts) are cost and
manufacturability analysis quotation systems, accessed via the company's
websites.
After loading a 3D CAD part, customers
receive a clear, simple and non-technical
quote, incorporating costs, material choices
and, where appropriate, suggestions for
changes to parts in order to improve manufacturability and/or tooling, part cost.
"ProtoQuote and FirstQuote are unique,
time- and cost-saving systems that benefit
Proto Labs customers," says Managing
Director, John Tumelty. "However, we wanted to allow everyone who comes to our
booth at MACH 2014 to experience the
speed and simplicity for themselves, even
those who have absolutely no prior experience of ordering
injection moulded parts or
custom CNC machined parts."
Among customers who have benefited from
the quotation systems is German-based
Robert Magin, a full-time, professional,
motor racing scrutineer. His responsibility is
primarily for the Porsche Cup races around
the world, ensuring fairness by making
sure all teams and their cars adhere to the
same technical specification and rules.
His company Romtec GmbH has developed a unique range of test equipment and
devices that fit into a travel case and can
be easily transported to races. All his test
products were produced using parts made
by the rapid CNC-machining service
Firstcut®, from Proto Labs.
Proto Labs became involved after the manager of the various Porsche Cups
approached Romtec asking for all testing
devices to be packed in a portable box, so
they could easily be transported safely to
the many international racing venues. "They
asked me to design the equipment and
specify a date when the box and its contents would be ready,"
said Mr Magin.
But CNC machine shops were quoting lead
times of four months or more to machine
his aluminium calipers and templates. Noone could make his parts in less than a few
weeks. Eventually he looked online where
he discovered the rapid CNC machining
service Firstcut, from Proto Labs.
"You cannot imagine how excited I was!" he
says now. "One Thursday, I uploaded the
3D model and the following Monday, my
finished parts, made using the productionintent material, arrived on the doorstep!"
"But, what I really think is sensational, is the
online quotation tool, FirstQuote®. It lets
me upload my 3D CAD model then, in just
a matter of hours, I receive the quote
including free design tips and suggestions
directly related to my parts. If I change the
quantity or the material of the parts, the
new price will be displayed immediately - a
truly unique service!"
Soon Mr Magin had his first, complete box
for presentation to Porsche. Called
Scrutinator, the box provides space for a
complete PC workstation and all calipers,
test equipment and tools required to allow a
scrutineer to carry out his work. Orders
from Porsche race representatives quickly
followed.
www.protolabs.co.uk
Stand 4528
27
GTMA
PROTO LABS
ONLINE SYSTEM RACES TO SUCCESS
Robert Magin, above, who used the Proto Labs
online quotation system to help deliver to the
Porsche racing circuit a unique test and measurement travel case.