PlastikCity on Tour – All 3D Labs
Our next stop was Wetherby, West Yorkshire, to visit All 3D Labs and meet founder Mark Baresh. All 3D Labs provide high-quality online 3D printing services, specialising in HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology for prototyping and low-to-medium volume manufacturing.
Nestled in the West Yorkshire countryside in an unassuming industrial estate between Leeds and York is All 3D Labs’ 3D printing facility, packed to the rafters with cutting-edge additive manufacturing technology, both for printing plastic parts and for providing a variety of post-processing options. It just might move the barometer of what you think is possible for 3D-printed parts – more on that later…
Cutting Edge Additive Equipment
All 3D Labs was founded by Mark Baresh (pictured above, right) and alongside his small team of additive engineers, the company operates the HP Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) 5200 series of industrial 3D printers. Forget the small desktop printer you may have in mind, these printers are serious bits of kit, with the HP MJF printer sitting around 1800mm high and over 2200mm wide (pictured, above), and that’s just the printer! Completing the HP machinery suite is the HP post-processing station, an even larger workstation used to remove excess powder and clean parts after they have been printed. (Pictured, below.)
Gone are the days of 3D printing being reserved for hobbyists or limited to prototyping. The HP MJF system is an advanced 3D printing solution designed for the full-scale production of end-use parts, with dimensional accuracy and repeatability that rivals industrial tooling for injection moulding.
All 3D Labs also operates a full suite of post-processing machinery from German supplier, DyeMansion. Mark explained his workflow, with components leaving the HP printer and then undergoing cleaning at the post-processing station, before starting different post-processing routines depending on the requirements of the components and the surface finish required.
Under its roof, All 3D Labs has the DyeMansion Powershot C, which is used for the automated depowdering of printed parts and gentle part cleaning. If a superior surface finish is required, the Powershot S is a leading blasting system which uses compressed air to fire small plastic beads over the printed component’s surfaces, smoothing bumps and achieving a homogenous surface finish. The Powershot S procedure gives a high-quality appearance to 3D printed parts, smoothing surfaces to provide a semi-glossy surface in a process known as Polyshot surfacing. (See before and after images, below).
The final piece of equipment on display, the one which Mark was particularly proud of, is the DyeMansion Powerfuse S. All 3D Labs was the first service provider in the UK to use the Powerfuse commercially, and this piece of machinery is what Mark believes sets his company apart from the rest of the market.
The Powerfuse S uses a chemical surfacing process known as Vapourfuse surfacing, which involves filling its processing chamber containing the printed components with a chemical vapour under a vacuum. The action of the vapour on the surface of the components reduces roughness to a minimum, as well as sealing and smoothing the outer surface of the parts. This process brings mechanical benefits, such as water and chemical resistance and an improvement in component strength, as well as creating a smooth and washable surface finish, rivalling injection moulded components.
Both the 3D printers and the post-processing equipment that All 3D Labs operate are cutting-edge technology, with the Powerfuse S, in particular, being one of the most advanced 3D printing post-processing systems on the market, with only a handful in operation in the UK.
In at the Deep End
During the visit, Mark commented a few times (in his typical, self-deprecating manner) how he really did jump in at the deep end with this venture. He decided early on with All 3D Labs to chase the highest-quality solution at every turn. He wants to push the limits of 3D technology and redefine what the market thinks is possible with additive manufacturing.
For a company which has only been operating for a couple of years, the suite of machinery All 3D Labs operate is not typical and is a testament to Mark’s vision for the future. A recurring theme throughout our visit was Mark’s laser focus on quality and utilising all of the tools and expertise the company has available to give his customers the absolute best results possible.
After the site tour and explanations and demonstrations from Mark at each station, we sat down to discuss his journey so far, his plans for the future, and his unlikely approach to a competitive market.
Firstly, we asked Mark to summarise the key services All 3D Labs provides to its customers:
Mark: “We are a 3D printing service, providing on-demand manufacturing for prototyping and low to medium-volume manufacturing projects. Using our HP and DyeMansion machinery, we produce 3D prints of the highest possible quality, using post-processing services to give printed parts a near-injection moulded quality. Customers can get quotes and order online via our website, with parts delivered within four working days.
“As we’re one of the only companies in the UK offering Vapourfuse surfacing at the moment, we also work closely with other 3D printing bureaus to subcontract certain parts of their service, finishing the parts they print themselves on the Powerfuse S.”
Next, we asked Mark to define his target market:
Mark: “I really don’t like the phrase target market! I could make a list of sectors: medical, automotive, consumer, education, rail, aerospace, hobbyists… but I think this is looking at things the wrong way.
“In reality, our target is any application in any sector. Any project that is feasible or any project that is open to designing for additive is a target for us.
“That’s the beauty of additive manufacturing.”
Would you print me one component? What about 100?
Mark: “Anything from one part to thousands of parts is suitable! The economics change for price per part, depending on volumes, component geometries, and how the components can be stacked and batched, but a big part of our personal service is handling this for the customer. I’m obsessed with maximising value from each build and will make every effort to provide the most economical outcome for our customers.
“The HP MJF equipment is especially suited for medium to low batch production runs, meaning orders in the hundreds or thousands of parts are typical. With the suite of post-processing machinery we operate, we’re suited to providing high-quality parts with a superior finish. This means strong, functional, and structurally sound components, available in a selection of aesthetic finishes, meaning 3D printed components no longer need to hide ‘under the hood’ and can be attractive and functional end-use parts.”
What sets All 3D Labs apart from its competitors?
Mark: “Again, I don’t like the word competitors! I don’t like to think of other 3D printing companies as my competitors or rivals.
“We are always focused on providing the customer with the best outcome, even if that means referring a customer to a different company for part of their process. If another additive process is better suited for a particular function, I’ll run through that with a customer, to educate and advise, and to ensure they leave with the best possible parts, from All 3D Labs or elsewhere.
“So far, this has worked well for us, and we’ve enjoyed complimentary relationships with other 3D companies. Similarly, they rely on us. I regularly use the Powerfuse S to finish components printed by ‘my competitors’.
“I prefer to focus on collaboration rather than competition!”
Next, we asked Mark if All 3D Labs has any plans for the next 12 months?
Mark: “To continue to grow the company and to build relationships with new customers and collaborators.
“We’re also exhibiting at the TCT 3SIXTY exhibition at the NEC Birmingham in June, so please visit us on stand L1 to see the quality of our parts yourself!”
Finally, we asked Mark: “What is your company philosophy or mantra?”
Mark: “To work for passion, in manufacturing and technology.
“I want to create an environment where staff want to come to work, and I want to attract the best people who share my mindset.”
Thank you, Mark, for your hospitality, and we look forward to sharing an exciting 2023 with All 3D Labs!
If you’d like to learn more about All 3D Labs or get an online quote for your 3D printing project, visit the All 3D Labs website.
Look out for the next edition of ‘PlastikCity on Tour’ to learn more about our excellent UK-based partners.
There are now well over 260 active partners represented on the PlastikCity site, many of which offer highly specialised products or services to our sector.
During our everyday course of business, we’ll be making a point of visiting as many of these partners as we can and using the time to better understand what they offer the market. We’ll then showcase them through this ongoing series of articles.
Maybe you can benefit from their services!
Read more news from All 3D Labs here.
All 3D Labs
E-Mail
07507 670195
Website
