A shift in prototyping methods has changed the way Lincoln Industries approaches product development, particularly in the products for heavy-duty trucks. Moving away from traditional, time-intensive prototyping that involved manual marking, measuring, and welding, the company has embraced 3D printing technologies, reshaping the process from concept to product.
The inclusion of 3D printing for rapid prototype tooling at Lincoln Industries has been critical in reducing the prototype timeline. Eric Jacobs, Director Truck Accounts at Lincoln Industries shared that “3D printing has been a catalyst in our prototyping process, reducing iteration times drastically. This technology allows us to quickly respond to our customers’ needs, ensuring we’re not just fast, but also accurate and efficient in our solutions.” Where the old methods required multiple iterations to perfect a design, 3D printing has significantly reduced this. Leveraging technology in this fashion, complemented by enhanced measurement verification capabilities through laser scanning and software upgrades, has enabled the company to accelerate the prototyping phase dramatically. This shift not only speeds up the design process but also enhances accuracy and reduces the margin for error.
Reducing the prototyping time to less than 48 hours has had a significant impact on Lincoln Industries’ service to customers. The rapid turnaround enables a quicker response to customer requests, aiding in the design and validation process. This is not just about efficiency; it’s about enabling customers to refine their designs more effectively and ensuring manufacturability earlier in the development cycle. Integration and production rampup are also smoother and quicker because issues are quickly resolved earlier in the design cycle.
Lincoln Industries is ready to meet the evolving demands of customers with agility and precision by incorporating the advantages and nimbleness of 3D printing with specialized expertise.
