Case Study: 3D Platform achieves 80% faster design cycles and launches first large-format 3D printers with SOLIDWORKS

Spinning Off Leading 3d Printing Company With Solidworks

3D Platform faced the challenge of rapidly developing a commercial-grade, large-format 3D printer to capitalize on a growing market opportunity. The company selected SolidWorks and implemented a suite of SolidWorks solutions—Standard, Professional and Premium design and analysis, SolidWorks Electrical 3D and Electrical Schematics, SolidWorks PDM Professional, plus eDrawings—to provide fast, flexible design and reliable data management.

Using SolidWorks’ top-down, in‑context parametric design and Premium simulation tools, 3D Platform cut design cycles by more than 80% (moving from concept to prototype in about 70 days), introduced the industry’s first large-format printer and scaled to systems as large as 16 x 300 feet. SolidWorks PDM and the large pool of trained users also sped hiring and collaboration, while SolidWorks simulation and design automation improved printer performance and throughput (spool-fed >1 kg/hour; pellet-fed >50 kg/hour), delivering faster ROI.

3D Platform

Jonathan Schroeder

President