Wiring is not sexy, but, several times in 3D printing, I’ve seen production grind to a halt over essential wire guides and holders. Just recently, production at several large vehicle manufacturers ceased completely because their wire harness manufacturing was located in Ukraine. Enter Q5D, a UK-based firm that has just released its latest solution for automated wire harness manufacturing, the CY1000, which combines subtractive and additive manufacturing (AM) to create these crucial parts.
A wire device made using Q5D’s technology.
With a 1000mm by 300mm build volume, the CY1000 is a production cell featuring a five-axis robot with interchangeable toolheads. It has been created to be a fully automated solution to 3D print parts, add conductive materials, components, and connectors, and then pick-and-place them onto other parts made out of plastic, metal, or ceramic. The unit…