Case Study: Solaxis achieves 100+ lb lighter jigs and cuts design/manufacturing time to 3–5 weeks with Stratasys 3D printing

Solaxis cuts cycle times from 16-20 weeks down to 3-5 weeks with 3D printing

Solaxis Ingenious Manufacturing in Bromont, Canada faced the common automotive challenge of heavy, hard-to-maintain metal assembly jigs (up to 150 pounds) and long design/manufacturing lead times. To solve this, Solaxis partnered with Stratasys and deployed Fortus 3D Printers to redesign and produce a lighter, more adaptable jig.

Using Stratasys Fortus 3D Printers, Solaxis produced a 34" × 22" jig weighing 28 pounds — over 100 pounds lighter than typical metal jigs — and completed a dozen-plus design iterations rapidly, cutting design/manufacturing time from 16–20 weeks to 3–5 weeks. The jig saves about 4 seconds per cycle across roughly 250,000 cycles a year (hundreds of labor hours), delivers ROI within 12 months, and helped eliminate compliance issues for the supplier over the last two years.

Solaxis

Francois Guilbault

Owner