How Does it Work?
All devices and products sold by Tree Dee Designs Inc. are manufactured after ordering. In this manner, you get to choose the colour, any features and any additional customizations before manufacturing. You will never get a product that has been sitting on a shelf for an extended period of time. Every product is test fitted to ensure functionality before shipping.
Manufacturing time is varied and usually no longer than 1-2 weeks for smaller orders. Larger orders are subject to longer manufacturing time and any estimate for any order can easily be obtained by emailing us - orders@treedeedesigns.com
Tree Dee Designs Inc. is currently a 3D printing based company, predominantly using Polylactic Acid (PLA) but also using some Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG). Advancements into different materials (flexible TPU, and super strong ASA) are anticipated for future development.
Traditionally, products made from plastic are almost always injection moulded. Looking around the room you are currently in, I’m sure you can find examples of injection moulded plastic. Injection moulding involves the creation of a mould where molten plastic is fed inside. Once hardened, the mould is separated and the plastic product is released.
3D printing is a method of manufacturing plastic devices by using a machine with a heated nozzle to lay molten plastic in layers. These layers of molten plastic harden once laid and build upon themselves to create the final plastic product.
The advantages of 3D printing over injection moulding:
- Low cost market entry. The invention of 3D printing has allowed smaller businesses to enter the market with new and unique design and product ideas much faster and easier than ever before.
- Easy to make changes. Because no expensive mould is required, any slight change or modification to products is easily obtained. This allows the products to be ever-changing, evolving and improving - something not available to most manufactures this easily.
- Supports ordering in low volumes. Even though Tree Dee Designs Inc. has the capacity of manufacturing very large orders, the process of 3D printing allows the same low cost per item pricing, as if you were ordering in bulk.
- Lower cost. Injection moulding requires heavy startup costs, and continued high costs to maintain product upgrades & enhancements. These cost savings are passed onto you, the customer.
Limitations of 3D printed devices:
- Temperature. At temperatures above 60C (140F) PLA plastic can begin to deform.
- Sheering. If forces are applied along the printed lines, product integrity can be affected. However, at Tree Dee Designs Inc. we manufacture our devices with this in mind - orientating the layers to tolerate shearing forces. We use these products in the field ourselves - so we make products that work.