Case Study

ParagonIncreases
Part Qualityand Reduces
Production
Lead Times
with Stratasys
Stereolithography
Technology

Stereolithography (SL)has always ticked all of
the boxes when it comesto producing exceptionalmodels and one-off parts
with an outstanding
surface finish. As such, we
identified the Neo®800 as
a best-in-class very earlyon its lifecycle. We firstinvested in 2016 and theconstant positive feedback
from our customers andthe need to expand ourbusiness offering has led
us to the purchase of afurther two Neo800s.”
Marc Faux
Divisional Head, Rapid Technologies,
Paragon Rapid Technologies Limited

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Located in Darlington, County Durham, Paragon
Rapid Technologies Limited, provides high-levelsupport throughout the product development
cycle. The company is split into three strategic
business units: Paragon Rapid Technologies;
AM Technologies and CNC Technologies. Thesebusiness units serve customers from a wide variety
of industries including, aerospace, automotive,consumer goods, entertainment, medical andmany more.
Paragon’s Rapid Technologies business unit offers
prototyping and low to mid volume manufacturingservices through 3D printing, vacuum casting,reaction injection molding and silicone molding
technologies. The team also has a model shop
for assembly and finishing. It is within this unit thatthe company is utilizing the Stratasys Neo line in
the form of the three Neo800 stereolithography 3Dprinters.
The Neo range of 3D printers features dynamic
laser beam technology that enables improved
build accuracy, increased feature detail, and low
variability across the full extent of a large build
platform. As an open resin system, the Neo
products provide customers materials with a wide
range of properties to suit their specific application
requirement - be it chemical resistance, heat
tolerance, flexibility, durability, and optical clarity.
The Neo800 can produce large parts up to 800 x
800 x 600 mm, providing a significant build area ina small footprint.
According to Marc Faux, Divisional Head, Rapid
Technologies, it is these capabilities and morethat led to the investments in the Neo800s,“Stereolithography is one of the oldest and mostwell-known methods of 3D printing and has
been a part of our business for many years. Ourfamiliarity with the technology aided in identifying

Document
CaseStudyTitle HereThe Neo800’s significant build area of 800 x 800 x 600 mm allows
Paragon to produce large parts in one single print - greatly reducing
post-processing and production time

Neo solutions as the next step for our Rapid
Technologies business unit and the business. The
ability to quickly produce highly accurate parts
with high-level industry quality directly answers theincreasingly exacting demands of our customers.”
Functional and reliable models and parts
across all industries
With a wide range of customers in many industries,
Paragon must adapt to the often-meticulous
demands that are required as well as the everchanging nature of markets. The team is often
commissioned to produce prototypes, gauges, jigs
and fixtures, pattern masters and even end-use
models and parts that are needed quickly, making
traditional production and manufacturing methods
a less viable option.
This is underscored by one automotive customerthat urgently needed a prototype car bumper ina rapid response time. As the bumper is a large
component, the part would normally be machinedfrom solid using traditional manufacturingmethods – a process that can take two to threeweeks. During this time the bumper would haveto undertake post machining and fabrication
processes that may be required for vacuum
forming and GRP lay ups. Not only that, but thetools would also have to be machined, as well as
any jigging fixtures needed, further delaying theproduction time.
In contrast, 3D printing using the Neo800 has
shortened the process to just two to three days ofprinting time – a decrease of 90%. Additionally, as
the surface finish is so good, even after one single
print, post-processing time is greatly reduced.
Andrew McCormack, Commercial Projects
Manager, Paragon Rapid Technologies Limited,explains, “Customers come to us with challenging
projects, and we have to adapt. Using the exampleof the car bumper, we saved time, by cutting-out
all the add-ons such as tools and jigs and fixtures
previously needed during one single print. Also,
more fundamentally, we knew we could take on
the production of such a large part, thanks to
the Neo800’s significant build area of 800 x 800
x 600 mm. As a result, where appropriate, wehave started to shift from traditional manufacturingmethods towards our Neo SL solutions, opening
up new avenues of work for our business.”

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The surface finish of models produced using the Neo800 greatly reduces the post-processing time and replicates actual parts and models withlow-volume one-offs used for end-use. (Model in image shown is provided by Jet Cooper of Makinarium.)High quality models in high-grade materials

Document
Case
StudyTitle Here

Furthermore, following the investment in the three
Neo800’s, Paragon has been able to diversify its
offering and explore new business streams in newand exciting sectors that demand high quality parts
and in smaller quantities. This includes producing
end use parts and models for the entertainment
industry. Servicing clients in stage, screen,amusement parks, museums and attractions,Paragon produces very-low volume and bespoke
functional parts and models such as costumes,
helmets, armor and weapons.
The level of detail, durability and surface finish
required to produce these parts is madepossible with the material offering of the Neo
800. According to McCormack, the team uses
Somos® EvoLVe 128 and WaterShed XC 11122.
He expands, “We have been using WaterShed
XC 11122 for many years now and it was one of
the step-up materials in terms of quality. Before,materials were brittle and unattractive. It is durable,
easy to post-process and finish and has therefore
become our ‘workhorse’ resin – it ticks all theboxes.”
Predominantly utilized for building parts andprototypes for functional testing applications, theEvoLVe 128 material results in time, money andmaterial savings during product development. Ideal
applications include tough, functional prototypes,
snap-fit designs and jigs and fixtures.
McCormack continues, “The EvoLVe 128 material
is more next-gen and we have only been using it afew years. It is high impact, flexible and feels more
like a molded material than traditional SL resins.
Customers often comment that prototypes are
more akin to the feel of an actual final product, as
well as having a good enough surface finish to look
like it.”

As of 2018, Paragon is the only 3D printing service
provider that has three industry leading, large bed
Neo800 stereolithography 3D printers4Paragon’s use of Somos® EvoLVe 128 and Somos® WaterShed XC 11122 stereolithography materials
ensures models have an ideal surface finish as well as high strength and durability in incredible detail.
(Model in image shown is provided by Jet Cooper of Makinarium.)Continuing to deliver on promises
While Stratasys acquired RPS in 2021, the teamat Paragon is looking forward to the continuing
positive relationship and believes Stratasys‘
industry-leading products will offer Paragon andother Neo line customers an expanded set ofapplications.
Faux concludes, “We would find it extremely
difficult to deliver on the promises we have madeto customers without the help and support ofRPS/Stratasys and our Neo line of 3D printers.
We regularly receive positive feedback from ourcustomers and while that is partly down to theskill of our technicians, the technology and thesupport helps make that possible. Having alreadygrown our market share in several industries, weaim to progress even more on that front, using new
applications and solutions in the future.”

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Case Study

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