What is a Fast Factory?

The single biggest difference between a standard factory and a fast factory is a the philosophical foundations of the manufacturing methods.

  • (1) In a standard factory, the objective is to determine the most efficient methodology to produce a single design and to mass manufacture that part. This approach to manufacturing relies on a large and supposed continuous demand for the product so that any company can justify the investment required for mass manufacturing.
  • (2) In a fast factory, most designs are produced only a handful of times and are done so in a very short period of time (i.e. short lead time.) A fast factory is used when a component needs to be manufactured but the extended demand of the part is unknown. Historically, this form of manufacturing has been exorbitantly expensive, however, MRL is leveraging additive manufacturing of high strength metals in combination with its in-house machine shop, rapid material characterization (microstructure, tensile testing, and fatigue testing), and proprietary metal polishing techniques to reduce the price of small batch manufacturing.


MRL is excited to work with new customers and solve design problems together so we can help you be original.

We specialize in low volume rapid production and prototyping.

3D Printing and Machining

Full Material Characterization

Model-Based Performance Prediction

3D Printing Facilities

MRL has a complete suite of additive manufacturing machines, each with a particular purpose. Different materials (i.e. Nickel and Titanium) have unique microstructures that can only be built using a particular set of solidification front velocities (R) and thermal gradients (G). Different printer technologies have different possible G&R which make them strong candidates for processing different materials. MRL uses its ICME tool, iCAAM to make decisions about which printer technology is most suitable for each material.

3D Systems ProX 200

- Selective Laser Melting (DMP Technology)

- Build Volume (L x W x H): 140 x 140 x 115 mm

- Compressive Packing Roller

- Accuracy is +/- 50 µm

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3D Systems ProX 300

- Selective Laser Melting (DMP Technology)

- Build Volume (L x W x H): 250 x 250 x 330 mm

- Compressive Packing Roller

- Accuracy is +/- 50 µm

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ARCAM Q10 Plus

- Electron Beam Melting

- Build Volume (L x W x H): 200 x 200 x 180 mm

- ARCAM Layering System

- High Precision for Medical Grade Parts

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MRL DED

- Direct Energy Deposition (Wire or Blown Powder)

- Build Volume (L x W x H): 3 x 3 x 3 ft

- MRL Slicing & G-Code

- Accuracy is +/- 2 mm

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Aluminum

Steel

Titanium

Nickel

Novel Alloys

Other

AlSi10Mg 316L Ti-6Al-4V IN718 MRL MgAlloy Cobalt Chrome
Addalloy HX 17-4 PH Ti 185 Haynes 230 MRL RHEA Contact for More
Addalloy 5T AF 9628 MAR M247
Addalloy 7S 4340
Addalloy 7SM2 Carbon Steel
Scalmalloy
A7050-RAM2

Hybrid Manufacturing

After printing parts, there may be locations where there are strict surface requirements to bring the part into tolerance. MRL has all the capabilities for a hybrid manufacuturing approach that will produce your parts with a high degree of fit and finish.

CNC and Manual Mill

CNC and Manual Lathe

Wire EDM

MRL Polishing

µCT for Validation of Dimensions

Automated Surface Grinder

Part Characterization

After printing parts, there may be locations where there are strict surface requirements to bring the part into tolerance. MRL has all the capabilities for a hybrid manufacuturing approach that will produce your parts with a high degree of fit and finish.

CNC and Manual Mill

CNC and Manual Lathe

Wire EDM

MRL Polishing

µCT for Validation of Dimensions

Automated Surface Grinder