It's not every day that a 3D printing company gets the chance to help save the environment. Working with DroneSeed, 3D Hubs has provided hundreds of essential parts to the drone swarms that help reforest the nation.
Who Is DroneSeed?
A forest fire can destroy an area at a speed of 14 miles per hour. Nearly 5 million acres of land are cleared by fires every year in the United States alone. New trees can take years to sprout, and if they don't grow back properly, the ecosystem of that area could take a serious hit.
That's where DroneSeed steps in. This company is the only drone operator with FAA approval to carry agricultural payloads; they're also the only company that has demonstrated the ability to manage loads over the normal limit of 55lbs. Their unique licensing comes from a combination of flying skill and clever technological design.
DroneSeed works with forestry agencies and non-profits to bring scorched areas back to life. Every DroneSeed swarm contains five custom-rigged drones that cover massive areas in a remarkably short amount of time. They spread seeds and fertilizer, accurately spray protective herbicides, and gather data to improve further operations. And none of this would be possible without the magic of 3D printing.
A State of Constant Development
DroneSeed is constantly developing new payload solutions. Agricultural load-bearing drones aren't available on store shelves, so DroneSeed has to modify existing designs to meet their unique needs. They accomplish this with a combination of store-bought parts and 3D printed designs.
Most of DroneSeed's parts are made from PLA 3d printing or MJF Nylon. The company has a few classic MakerBot printers in their backroom that they use for prototyping; most of their initial parts are made with FDM printing. These parts are used to try out new designs ideas or as replacement parts to get an existing drone back on the road.
These in-house printers are good for prototypes, but many of DroneSeed's projects are on a significantly larger scale. When the numbers get too high, DroneSeed turns to their favorite 3D printing service.
How Online 3D Printing Saves the Day
DroneSeed faces many unique design challenges and applications. Most of their projects require a tight turnaround and a huge selection of parts. The average five-drone swarm needs a total of 350 unique parts, and they need to be manufactured with high structural integrity.
There are three main reasons why DroneSeed chooses online printing whenever they have a large project:
Speed
- Speed - 3D Hubs can start printing orders almost immediately. Their online 3d printing service automatically checks CAD designs for errors and creates an immediate quote. DroneSeed uses this feature to request parts as soon as they need them.
Flexibility
- Flexibility - DroneSeed creates custom parts with extremely unique designs. Sometimes they use FDM printing; in other cases, MJF printing is the only tool for the job.
Scale
- Scale - The parts needed for a drone fleet are too many for an individual manufacturer to handle; they're also too few for solutions like injection molding to be cost-effective. Only a 3D printing service can produce exactly the right number of parts in such a short timeframe.
3D Hubs is a pivotal part of DroneSeed's design and manufacturing process. This 3D printing service is proud to use modern technology to help keep the country covered in trees.
