Italian motorcycle exhaust manufacturer, Termignoni, has reduced its production costs by 50 per cent and shortened its time to market from weeks to days by using a Stratasys F770 3D printer. By bringing the production of prototype parts in-house, the company has developed an ecosystem of capabilities that includes metal laser cutters and CNC machines. Termignoni provides aftermarket systems for consumer brands, such as Ducati, KTM, Yamaha, and Honda. The large size of the Stratasys printer enables parts to be 3D printed as a single piece, reducing the risk of inaccuracies and inefficiencies.
The aftermarket sector in the motorbike industry requires quick time-to-market for releasing aftermarket parts after a new motorbike is launched. Ernesto Marinelli, General Manager, and Product and Technical Director, Termignoni, says that prototyping typically takes up one-third of the development time. Marinelli adds that 3D printing provides a significant time advantage by allowing quick testing, making revisions, and simplifying the process, which leads to cost-effectiveness.
Termignoni uses ASA thermoplastic for its 3D printing, which provides greater stability and surface appearance compared to other materials. The team uses ASA with soluble support materials to help design and 3D print complex and internal structures with minimal post-processing requirements.
With the Stratasys 3D printer, Termignoni has created an ecosystem of capabilities. The company has brought in various production equipment that it previously sourced externally. By combining the F770 with metal laser cutters and CNC machines, the company can now complete parts such as jigs and fixtures for production and measurement processes internally.