The generous envelope size was a major attraction for Mr Dicker. The 3D ProX 800 and ProX DMP 320 both boast large build volumes, meaning they can easily support industrial applications from R&D to the production line, from the aerospace industry to healthcare services. Investing in building cars While someone who drives a Ferrari as his ‘go-to’ vehicle could be said to be indulging his passion for fast cars, Rodin Cars is above all else, a business. And Mr Dicker plans to eventually produce 50-100 supercars a year. The finance option offered by Fuji Xerox New Zealand is a very attractive proposition to an astute businessperson keen to spread investment over years, rather than making an upfront capital outlay. The investment in 3D is non-negotiable for his business, says Mr Dicker. “If you’re going to build these kinds of cars you’ve really got to have these kinds of machines. The parts you need are very difficult to make any other way. When you’re building a high-end product, you need high-end engineering to go with it. You can’t just say this is an expensive car, pay us a lot of money. You’ve got to, in effect, articulate why that is - and you do that with better engineering.” A SOLID Partnership, a strong future Rodin Cars has made a major commitment to using its 3D Solutions technology as part of the business, so keeping the devices running smoothly is of paramount importance. Mr Dicker says the relationship with Fuji Xerox New Zealand is excellent. “They’re really good. If I call with an issue, they’re right on to it.” He has one person running the ProX DMP 320, and another dedicated to the ProX 800. Fuji Xerox provides support through its own 3D Systems certified engineers. The focus is on maintaining maximum uptime to make sure there is a steady, efficient and reliable output of production parts. Rodin is nearly ready to go public with its two supercars. There are plans in place for the website launch, and cautious talk of a PR campaign. The FZed should be ready to go to market by the end of this year, and Mr Dicker plans to unveil the FZero at the Dubai International Motor Show this November. There are already plans to put a road version of the FZero into development. “I’ve always wanted to build a car – a fast one,” says Mr Dicker. “Now I have the capability, time and money to make that happen. Our cars won’t be cheap, but they’ll be as fast, or faster, than a Formula 1 car. Our 3D Systems printers are critical to the high-level of production and design needed to make Rodin Cars a success.” C A S E S T U D Y : 3 D P R I N T I N G AT A GLANCE: Organisation Rodin Cars Industry Sector Automotive Business requirements Versatile state of the art production machinery Primary objective Rapid manufacture of complex automotive parts and tooling Solution 3D printers PROX800 model: • Large build volume • High temperature material for carbon fibre tooling • Accurate master patterns for vacuum and investment casting PROX DMP 320 model: • High throughput and efficiency • Excellent material purity and surface finish • Wide range of material options Outcomes: Production of boundarypushing components through virtually limitless freedom of design www.engineeringnews.co.nz 25
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