The Creation of Magna Printer Farm
Creating the largest quantity of a single PPE item by 3D Printing ever made
To fulfil our NHS contract, we designed and installed a purpose-built factory to make face shields. Housing 45 Magna printers, operating 24/7, we manufactured over 50,000 3D printed components every day.
The changes and developments to enable the manufacture of 7.7 million face shields
45 printers manufactured and installed as a ‘print farm’
Optimised a design print without supports
Written software to control a farm of printers
Created optimised wash and cure process
Improved speed of printers
Developed the chemistry to improve material property
Factors that enabled this to happen
Unique position, Patented technology.
When we started in 3D printing 6 years ago, we had the vision that uniquely screens could enable custom mass manufacture. Today, we have made that dream a reality, responding in volume at the time of need.
Unique Daylight Technology
Patented Daylight system- partnering chemistry and screen perfectly. Safe for screens, consistent intensity delivers exceptional final plastic properties.
In-House Chemistry
Photocentric has been at the leading edge of photopolymer manufacture for more than 15 years. We manufacture in-house, creating the building blocks of plastics making oligomers. We created a new resin specially for face shields in just 3 weeks using our dedicated team of chemists.
LCD Screens
Large format, high resolution, cost-effective, and long-lasting LCD screens. Our screens run on daylight ensuring our printers last a lifetime. Large screen areas harden large volumes of plastic, simultaneously.
UK Sourced Components, UK Grown Product.
70% of the components of Magna are sourced in the UK. Obtaining components locally means we can iterate the design effortlessly, introducing improvements seamlessly. Scaling manufacture can be achieved rapidly. High quality reliable products with secure supply chains.
Pauline-Healthcare Assistant at The Village Surgeries Croston and Eccleston
QE Gateshead NHS
Blackpool Hospital BFW Cardiac Investigation Unit
Arnold Medical Centre Blackpool
Solent NHS Trust
Face Shield Mass Manufacture
Our Journey
COVID-19 – Becoming a 3D Mass Manufacturer for the First Time.
We transformed our business to make face shields for healthcare workers.