Case study : Shorten prototyping time with 3D printing

Installing an audio system in a large building such as a store, a restaurant or an architectural complex can be challenging. You have to plan the location of the speakers in advance, run hundreds of meters of cable, connect them to amplifiers, mixers, media players, etc. In short, it's no small task, especially when it comes to equipping pre-existing buildings.

This problem is well known to acoustician Cyrille Gallice. This music and hi-fi equipment enthusiast has worked on these issues as a sound engineer for over 15 years. In 2019, he launched the company Amplitude Audio to develop multiroom products capable of using the electrical wiring already present in buildings to transfer the sound signal. The speakers developed by the company are based on PLC (Power Line Carrier) technology, the same technology that makes it simple to create computer networks throughout homes using existing electrical outlets... except this time, it's the sound that is transferred throughout the entire installation.

Once the speakers are connected to the existing power supplies (electrical outlets, light points...), the user can send music to the entire building, or target specific rooms, using the Amplitude Audio application or the usual protocols like AirPlay. How convenient! This technology not only speeds up the deployment of an audio installation, but also reduces its cost and carbon footprint (by halving the number of cables compared to a conventional installation).

The conception process : 

The company uses 3D modeling to design its products. It then materializes its concepts using additive manufacturing. With 3D printing, Amplitude Audio is able to create an aesthetically pleasing prototype in just two days, a record time compared to traditional prototyping methods. 

Le prototype conçu par Amplitude Audio : un plafonnier avec une enceinte intégrée

Surrounded by designers from the Rubika school, the company has, among other things, imagined an innovative product, at the crossroads between a speaker and a lighting fixture. To develop the prototypes for this product, Amplitude Audio used Zortrax M300 and M300+ 3D printers, chosen for their precision and large printing volume. Compatibility with Z-Glass filaments also allowed the designers to fabricate the translucent parts of the prototype with ease.

“For startups, time is precious. 3D printing allows us to have a prototype in our hands in less than 48 hours, which for us is a feat.” — Cyrille Galice   

Rapid prototyping allows Amplitude Audio to validate the design of the object, including the correct assembly of the elements, in preparation for its final production. CAD/CAM also facilitates the design and integration of audio, electrical and electronic components in the pre-production phase.

In addition to providing better cost control, 3D printing and modeling have allowed the company to save time between each iteration and thus accelerate innovation and the release of new products.

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