3D printing used in industry first

Using 3D printing, the team at Alspec have created a bespoke sliding door system to meet the high end specifications required for a client’s project.

Alspec’s R&D team have utilised the latest in 3D printing technology to develop a bespoke sliding door system to meet a client’s exacting requirements.

The challenge issued to the R&D team was to provide a high performance sliding door which could be proven to meet three key specifications – water penetration, wind load and disabled access:

Water penetration: Window manufacturers are required under the Building Code of Australia to produce windows and doors that meet specifications set out in the Australian Standard AS2047 – Windows and external glazed doors in buildings. This standard includes water penetration and wind pressure testing. For this project the doors were required to meet 700 pascal (Pa) testing.
Wind load: Wind load is the intensity of pressure windows or doors can withstand and Alspec products all carry a certified rating. Given the high-rise aspect and coastal location of the project site, the doors needed to cope with the potential for extreme wind loads up to a pressure of 7.8 kPa.
Disabled access: To provide appropriate access for people with disabilities, the sill design had to meet Australian Standard AS1428.1 - Design for Access and Mobility. The flush sill gives building users a continuous accessible path when travelling between internal and external floor finishes.

Given this combination of specifications was not currently met by any products on the market, the team put together a design solution they believed would meet all three criteria. By using 3D printing technology, they created a model which could communicate the final design to the client in advance. This gave them both a visual and a physical appreciation of how the final product would look and operate, prior to cutting the final dies.

The end product was extruded in structural alloy 6106 T6, a higher grade of alloy which also ensured the project’s higher specification needs were met.

For more information on how Alspec R&D can assist with your next project, contact your local Alspec Branch. You can also read more detailed information on our R&D capabilities here.

View the 3D printer in action