Graphite Additive Manufacturing have been working alongside the ultimate team of craftsmen at Eagle to produce high-quality components for the beautiful E-Type Jaguars they professionally restore.
Taking original E-Types, they lovingly restore these stunning cars from the ground-up, replacing each part with restored originals or with some that increase the quality to a superior level that’s hard to imagine.
Paul Brace, Director of Eagle, explains how working with Graphite Additive Manufacturing has addressed the need for a specific part…
“The part pictured is a heater/air conditioning duct that fits underneath the dash top.
The original parts are a rather cheaply produced, two-part plastic piece that are not only difficult to attach to the dash top, but the input pipe does not fit well either. The item made using the MJF process is far nicer because the pipe fits properly and the duct now incorporates fixing lugs. A substantial extra benefit to us is that we are able to amend the design (where beneficial or appropriate) at any time, now or in the future, without incurring retooling costs.
In fact, for one of our special E-Type variations it is beneficial for the pipe to enter the duct at a different angle. The MJF process has enabled us to alter that detail on the drawing model and simply save a different file.
One of the challenges of our particular business is the low volume component requirements. We only create about four or five E-Types per year and we offer five model variations. In addition, each of those five options might be left or right drive and will have entirely different technical specification. This means that certain bespoke parts are used in very low numbers – perhaps even just one per year. Normal manufacturing methods such as laser cutting, machining and moulded parts require production of a reasonable quantity to be economically sensible. Ordering as few as six of certain components can not only mean the excess quantity sit on our shelves for many years but, because we are constantly evolving our products, we often make changes to parts before we have even got to using the second product from the shelf.
With 3D printed parts we are able to order economically in single units, if required, and the model can be modified and re-sent via email so that every next part is an evolution of the last with no cost implication apart from shipping cost.
Additional benefits include the possibility of creating shapes that are impossible by traditional methods of production and the light weight of the materials on offer. Our customers are increasingly appreciative of the benefits reaped by weight reduction, so this element has value.”
Paul Brace, Director of Eagle
For further information on Eagle, visit their website at https://www.eaglegb.com
