Prodways meets the professional sports world with Mac-Lloyd

The sports-tracker specialist Mac-Lloyd (link) has chosen the Prodways SLS® ProMaker P1000 (link) 3D printer for the manufacturing of its high precision, heavy duty and shock resistant tracking devices.

Widely used in rugby, football, horse races and hockey, Mac-Lloyd’s all-in-one system features GPS, Biometry, Indoor, Concussion analysis and data broadcast.

The decision to switch from the original parts subcontracting approach to the direct in-house manufacturing of the parts with a ProMaker P1000, can be resumed in this simplified SWOT table.

BUY

MAKE

Classic approach: Injection molding

Additive manufacturing subcontracting

In-house manufacturing with a P1000 3D printer

Weaknesses:

Expensive process, that impacts the per-part price
Delay between conception of the design and delivery production of the part
Not suitable for small series
No design iteration possible

Weaknesses:

High costs
Delay between conception of the design and delivery of the part
Design iterations possible, but not fast enough to keep the pace with the design team
PA12 material not suitable for all the needs

Strengths:

Low cost per part
Zero delay between design and production
Design iterations possible with no limitations
Impact resistant PA11-SX 1450 material for better mechanical properties.

Mac-Lloyd determined the ProMaker P1000 as the best fit among other 3D printers because of its portfolio of high-performance materials, ease of use, a build volume of 300x300x300mm, and the naturally smooth surface of the printed parts.

The outer casings of the trackers are printed with the Prodways PA11-SX 1450 (link) to meet the stringent requirements of the latest IRB (International Rugby Board) benchmarks.

With Prodways SLS® technology, Mac-Lloyd moved beyond 3D prototyping to the direct production of impact-resistant parts made for one of the most exciting environments — sports.