Faster and easier to produce individually manufactured components

3D printing, CNC manufacturing, or injection molding? When designers search for the most suitable manufacturing process for a customized component, they often lose valuable time and quickly lose track of the situation. Igus is changing this with the Triboteile service: a free online tool that enables designers to find out, with just a few clicks and on a single page, which manufacturing process is most efficient for the required component – ​​in terms of cost, delivery time, and service life.

A designer at a mechanical engineering company is under pressure. The summer season is just around the corner, and the first batch of new vending machines must be delivered as quickly as possible. But the devil is in the detail: a custom-sized sliding element is still missing, which the designer needs to have manufactured. But which manufacturing process will get them to their goal as quickly as possible? 3D printing, CNC manufacturing, or injection molding? There's no time for time-consuming research and consultations with various manufacturers.

"We have developed the free Tribo Parts Service to help designers select the right process for custom component manufacturing," says Thomas Rösler, Head of Online Tools at igus. While it was previously possible to compare the efficiency of 3D printing and injection molding, this is now also possible for CNC manufacturing. This allows designers to assess the efficiency of the three manufacturing methods in a single tool with just a few clicks, reliably finding the most economical, fastest, and most durable solution for the required special component. "This tool is unique on the market. It offers real added value for customers who require custom-manufactured components: whether series parts or spare parts starting from a single unit," says Rösler.

Online tool compares feasibility, price, delivery time, and service life

The igus Tribo Parts Service works as follows: Designers only need to upload a CAD model of their component to the igus website. If a CAD file isn't yet available, you can also create one online using an igus tool. After uploading the CAD model, the user is taken to an overview page where they can immediately see the price and delivery time for all suitable manufacturing processes. Users can find suitable materials based on the application specifications—such as ambient temperature, dirt load, or surface pressure.

Furthermore, the expected service life can be calculated by entering dynamic application parameters. This allows users to identify, compare, and order suitable materials and manufacturing processes even faster, and directly online. For complete transparency, igus also offers an additional service: the "Next Best Standard" AI. This examines the uploaded component for similarity to igus products. If there is a match, the user can go to the respective online shop to select a suitable standard solution instead of a customized solution from the Triboteile service. This saves time and money.

Tribo Parts Service offers transparency and saves valuable time

The online tool, with its advanced CNC machining capabilities, enables users to make process-optimized manufacturing decisions – with full transparency regarding feasibility, price, delivery time, and service life. "In times when development cycles are becoming increasingly shorter and resources are scarce, the digital workflow of the Tribo Parts Service saves designers valuable time," Rösler concludes. "Instead of tedious research and comparisons, they can concentrate on their core task: developing innovative products."