Working with older industrial machines often means dealing with missing, damaged, or obsolete components that are difficult or impossible to source. To solve this, I began digitally modeling replacement and upgraded parts before producing them through a combination of 3D printing and traditional workshop fabrication methods.
Using CAD workflows allowed parts to be measured, redesigned, iterated, and tested much faster than with conventional fabrication alone. It also made it possible to improve certain components beyond their original designs while still maintaining compatibility with the machines.
By combining digital modeling with in-house manufacturing tools such as FDM printing, resin printing, lathes, and milling machines, we were able to significantly reduce downtime and accelerate machine maintenance and prototyping workflows.