As originally asked by Mac Osterneck.

Have you ever been in this situation?

If so, what did you do to solve it?

Stephanie Myers
Manager of Business Affairs and Professional Development at Thompson Surgical Instruments, Inc.
3D printing has saved us so much time and allowed us to be more creative with out risking as much time or $.

Richard Brautigam
Business Development
We have been using a Makerbot type printer for the past year with very good results. You need to have a culture where there can be some risk taking. I have seen solutions like Joerg’s work, at past companies where I have worked invested with a molder in a specific piece of equipment to the tune of $50,000 which was for our dedicated use (not where I am now). Every new device has an obstacle like this in the path that must be overcome.

Robert Odell
Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Cardiac Insight, Inc.
Been there, done that. 3D printing, in its various forms, is a godsend. These parts can be accepted for use, even in production quantities. I’ve lately been very pleased with what I’ve seen my clients use.

Project Managers are always trying to balance the cost/time equation. If you told them not to, you could quickly be in more serious trouble! All the decisions are clear when looking back!

Joerg Schulze-Clewing
Electronics Design Consultant
Make them yourself. Including, on one occasion, a big production machine.

Of course, one often doesn’t have all the tools. Then it can really pay off to talk to the local injection molders and other specialists about it. Yeah, it’ll be a bit more expensive but in order to win reputation and some follow-up business they will usually give it their best to make it happen.