Case Study: Innovative 3D Manufacturing reduces costly metal-part damage and speeds fixture production with 3D Platform's 3DP WorkSeries

Polymer 3D Prints Used to Protect Costly Metal Parts

Innovative 3D Manufacturing, a Franklin, Indiana service bureau specializing in metal additive manufacturing for automotive, aerospace and medical clients, faced the challenge of holding and protecting large, complex metal parts (such as diesel engine and aerospace components) throughout downstream machining and finishing without causing damage or costly scrap. Engineer Taylor Johnson needed cost‑effective, fit‑for‑purpose fixtures and workholding that could accommodate big, irregular geometries.

They adopted a 3D Platform 3DP WorkSeries large‑format FFF printer (1 m × 1 m × 0.7 m) to produce polymer support fixtures, soft jaws and workholding as single pieces using open‑market materials (PLA, TPU, carbon‑fiber blends). The approach shortened iteration time, enabled one‑piece fixtures printed in under 20 hours, reduced part damage and scrap, and improved the company’s bottom line through faster, more flexible fixturing.

Innovative 3d Manufacturing

Taylor Johnson

Engineer