Case Study: KUKA achieves rapid prototyping and multi-week development savings with Proto3000's MakerBot 3D‑printing solutions

KUKA Innovates Robotics with MakerBot 3D Printers

KUKA, a global leader in robotics and intelligent automation, faced the challenge of rapidly prototyping and custom-building robot components and tooling for smart factories and new models like the KR 3 AGILUS and LBR iiwa. To accelerate design iterations and avoid costly outsourcing, KUKA partnered with Proto3000 to deploy MakerBot 3D printers (notably MakerBot Z18s) for in-house rapid prototyping and custom tool production.

Proto3000’s MakerBot printers were integrated into KUKA’s Prototyping and Applications Engineering teams to print scale prototypes, custom jigs, fixtures and end effectors, enabling faster testing and on-site refinements. The solution delivered measurable gains: printers run over 7,000 hours per year with a 92% success rate, cutting development time by several weeks for the KR 3 AGILUS and saving 2–4 weeks on some end-effector projects, while improving design confidence and serviceability.

KUKA

Otmar Honsberg

Head of Application Engineering Team