The emergence of Ultimaker 3D printers is undoubtedly a solution to various problems faced by humanity in the 21st century.
In this case, 3DMart's client received significant support from Ultimaker 3D printers during the 3D printing prototyping process.
Let's see how their innovative idea won over the crowd on Kickstarter!
Let's delve into the story of Eclipse and 3DMart!
Native Union used the Ultimaker 3 3D printer to quickly print components and mechanical structures for their latest device, the Eclipse. This innovative product addresses a common 21st-century problem – eliminating tangled and messy USB charging cables.
Native Union was founded in 2009 by John Brunner and Igor Duc, creating technological accessories that enhance user experience through the highest quality materials. To bring products to market, rapid and cost-effective prototyping is essential – and this is where Ultimaker excels.
What is Eclipse?
Featuring components and mechanisms prototyped on the Ultimaker 3 printer, Eclipse is a 3-port USB hub designed to effectively manage cables and simplify the charging process. It also offers fast charging capabilities, making it a convenient and sophisticated stylish design.
How does Eclipse work?
The clever design allows users to plug in three USB cables for charging simultaneously. This design features a cable management system that prevents tangling and can store up to 24 feet of cable. How to start using this device? Simply plug your USB charging cables into the device, and then plug Eclipse into the outlet!
Igor Duc, co-founder and CEO of Native Union, said: "We are still in the wired era. Although the device does not have a wireless charging coil, their designed Eclipse provides optimal support for wireless charging stands."
Testing products with 3D printing technology
Igor said, "We test some internal components and mechanical structures using 3D printing technology. With 3D printers, we can quickly test the feasibility of new ideas." Through multiple trials, the Native Union team can accurately discern which designs succeed and which do not.
3D printing allows us to accelerate the process of simulating detailed mechanical structures and helps make difficult design decisions, thereby improving the final outcome.
Why Ultimaker?
The team chose Ultimaker for its speed and quality. They also found that Ultimaker's software and hardware were very user-friendly, and Ultimaker's materials perfectly matched their needs.
Native Union uses PLA/PVA and TPU/PLA combinations to print their prototypes because these material combinations are very similar to the material properties of the final product. However, they are considering trying other printable materials in the future, so they are "very excited about the advancement of printable material technology."
The company remains focused on developing high-end technical support and hopes to continuously enhance people's interaction with their tech devices. Their Ultimaker 3 printer enables them to continue building and adjusting prototypes, giving them a deeper understanding of product design and supporting design decisions. "We are very pleased that, through quality and print management, Ultimaker 3D printers can now show a large amount of detail in models."
Driving Innovation Through Collaboration
Ultimaker has an extensive global network of partners, fully certified and trained by the Ultimaker headquarters team. This ensures that Ultimaker's global partners provide the highest level of service to all Ultimaker customers, anytime, anywhere.
For companies like Native Union looking for manufacturing or prototyping solutions, having a local Ultimaker partner is crucial. In Native Union's case, 3DMart in Hong Kong helped Native Union take their innovative products to the next level in the fastest and simplest way. Thanks to 3DMart's customized 3D printing solutions, Native Union is not limited by design – which demonstrates how valuable true collaboration is!
Ultimaker's partners are there to help you every step of the way – from determining the right product for your needs to maintenance and troubleshooting.
Ultimaker loves Native Union's useful and minimalist accessories. You can check out all Native Union products on their website.
You are also welcome to contact us and share your 3D printing stories!
(Original source: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/38783-rapid-prototyping-to-solve-21st-century-problems)