Engineering & Development

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HQC's engineering group functions as an extension of your business, preferring early involvement with you whenever possible, to provide assistance at each stage of production development.

We can assist with design enhancement, ensuring that your tooling is built to specifications that produce your product on budget, and on time.

From prototyping to production, our in-house tooling facility allows us to maintain and service your tooling, optimizing mold life.

Prototyping/Modeling

HQC can take your concept from design to production in-house to ensure product success and increase speed to market.

Click here to view product samples.

The printer:

• is on-site at HQC.
• builds from .STL files. HQC can convert from many other file formats if
  needed.
• build size is 8” x 8” x 12”. Larger parts can split up and dovetailed, glued or
  fastened together to create a larger model.
• operates unattended.

The material:

• is much stronger than SLA or starch based models.
• is currently available in natural, white, black, grey, and blue. 3 – 4 more colors
  will be available by the end of the year.
• can be machined, painted, polished, etc.
• can be RF and EMI shielded.
• can be treated to allow for living hinges.

ABS printer:
HQC has installed an ABS Printer to allow in-house modeling for speed-to-market, functional testing, multiple design iterations, and taking the concepts & ideas and making them into reality.

How the ABS Printer works:

• First, a part model is created in a .STL file with a design program. HQC is
  using SolidWorks, but any 3D CAD software should be able to generate the
  necessary files.
• The model is then imported into a program that communicates with the ABS
  Printer.
• The software slices the .STL file into horizontal layers mathematically,
  generating the required supports.
• The system draws cross-sectional layers one at a time in the X, Y, and Z
  coordinate by using a heated material extrusion process.

How the parts are built:

• Printer software directs the printer to deposit model material or support material
  to the part file configuration.
• The printer builds up one layer at a time (either 0.007” or 0.010” per layer).
• Once the part is completely built, the model is removed from the machine.
• The support material is then removed from the model using a detergent bath.
• The finished model can be used “as is” or go through additional finishing
  operations.

This modeling process is referred to FDM – Fusion Deposition Method

 

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