When clients send us files for high-profile projects, we know the stakes are high. There is still something pretty special about seeing the finished product in use—especially when it makes its way onto national television.
Our team had the opportunity to provide 3D printing services in Ontario for the NBA STARS project, which includes the NBA Coach’s Challenge Light system.
We knew exactly where the parts were going and what they were being used for. What we don’t always get to see is how the finished product is used once it leaves our hands. So it was especially gratifying to see the completed system in action on NBA courts—and on television.
Material Strength for High-Stakes Technology
For a system used during critical game-review moments, the components inside need to be reliable.
We used Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) to produce these parts in industrial-grade nylon.
SLS nylon is one of our go-to materials for functional, end-use parts because of its excellent mechanical strength and durability. While 3D printing is often associated with prototypes and early-stage development, SLS allows us to produce rugged, functional components designed for real-world applications.
This project is a great example of how 3D printing services in Ontario and across Canada can be used to manufacture functional parts that become part of a finished product.
Delivering When the Deadline Matters
The sports technology industry moves fast, and this project came with a demanding schedule.
Our customer needed the parts printed, finished and delivered within a specific window so all units could be assembled and shipped before the NBA season began.
Our team worked to meet the schedule while maintaining the quality and specifications required for the project.
Shortly after the first NBA games using the system, our client reached out with this message:
“Thank you to you and your team for getting us all of the 3D parts for the NBA STARS project. We did manage to ship all units on time. We appreciate the rush your team made. This weekend the first NBA games were held that utilize this system. The 3D printed parts are inside that globe circled in Red.” – Design team customer quote
From 3D Printing in Ontario to the NBA
Seeing the completed system in an actual NBA game was a great reminder of what makes our 3D printing services so useful for product development and manufacturing.
A digital design can become a functional component, produced in the appropriate material and incorporated directly into a finished product.
For manufacturers, engineers and product developers in Ontario and across Canada, 3D printing can provide a practical way to produce custom components without the limitations of traditional manufacturing methods.
Whether the requirement is a prototype, a functional component, or an end-use part, choosing the right 3D printing technology and material is critical.
For this project, our SLS nylon parts were the right combination—and those parts ultimately found themselves inside a system being used on NBA courts.
