Designing, Prototyping and Producing Innovations: 3D Printing the ZeroTier Edge

Unilab Manufacturing is an eco-friendly 3D printing farm who helps their clients bridging the gap between prototype and mass production. Unilab Manufacturing designed and 3D printed the first ZeroTier’s hardware device, the ZeroTier Edge.

Making the ZeroTier Edge

Digital manufacturing company, Unilab Manufacturing, was a vital component of the creation of the ZeroTier Edge. Located in the PeopleSpace building, both companies collaborated to design and manufacture the newest ZeroTier hardware product.

Unilab Manufacturing is centered on designing, prototyping and producing innovations through the use of 3D printing. Typically, to make a product like the Edge, one would need to use aluminum tooling, an expensive process to create prototypes. However, 3D printing ensured that metal tooling was unnecessary and in turn, costs were greatly reduced.

How were the models manufactured?

Over the course of 3 to 4 months, seven different variations of the design for the Edge were created. Initially, the ZeroTier team provided a concept which was digitally drawn by an industrial designer. Later, Unilab printed a physical prototype that was revised and recreated multiple times until the 3D printing was ready to commence.

Why was 3D printing a good strategy?

Fortunately, what could have cost about $15,000 simply for tooling, only cost a few thousand for design while actual 3D printing only cost $5 per unit. Additionally, printing saved approximately 30 days of tooling.

By bypassing excessive spending of time and money, 3D printing continually satisfies the need for rapid development of plastic products.

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Want to learn more?
Visit Unilab Manufacturing website