Estoban Corporation is the creator of Chim-Scan, the chimney sweep camera of choice for contractors and chimney repair servicers around the globe since 1984. In the last few years they have made major strides in how they develop and produce their products with the addition of additive manufacturing.

The Challenge

Tom Urban, President of Estoban Corporation, originally decided to pursue additive solutions for his business a few years back, but was ultimately unsatisfied with the results. Their original printers were constantly down for repair and the quality and finish of the parts just was not up to par. 

"3 years ago we went with additive manufacturing, and we went with another company," Tom explained. "From the beginning we had machines going back on a regular basis for repair. On top of that all we also began to have problems with the quality of the parts that we had, plus they weren't holding up well in the field. At that time we really began to get discouraged on additive processes completely." 

One of parts printed on their original printer

"As time went on we began working with Eiger setting up parts and components and we were amazed at the simplicity. We have three CNC machines now, but what we can do with our printers is amazing."

- Tom Urban, President, Estoban Corporation

The Solution

After meeting the EXBuild team at one of our road tour events, we came up with multiple additive solutions to their current process. Tom decided to invest in his first Markforged printer and immediately noticed the difference.

"EXBuild delivered our first printer and set it up for us, going through the entire process," Tom said. "When it was completed we began making parts immediately. As time went on we began working with Eiger setting up parts and components and we were amazed at the simplicity. This is a well thought out product. We've gone from doing our first small parts, to now our parts are getting more complex. We have three CNC machines here now, but what we can do with our printers is amazing."

The new part, now designed and printed on a Markforged printer

New Product Innovations

Old camera control parts made with traditional manufacturing

All new design, now using 60% additive parts

Additive Alternatives

Camera control arm parts, now entirely additive manufactured

Rapid Prototyping

Chim-Scan's new control board housing designed and printed in less than a day

"We started out with only 5-10% of our product (being) additive. Today it's getting close to 60% and we definitely will be adding more to what we are doing. Our future looks pretty bright."

- Tom Urban, President, Estoban Corporation

The Future

Now with 4 printers in his arsenal, Tom's goal is to get to the point that almost 100% of the Chim-Scan product is designed and built with additive parts. "(Right now) we have four machines, and we will probably be adding more, said Tom. "We started out with only 5-10% of our product was additive. Today we it's getting close to 60% and we definitely will be adding more to what we are doing."

"The support that EXBuild has given us and the confidence we have (with additive) we will continue to make more parts," Tom added. "Our future looks pretty bright right now as far as what we are going to do with (additive), because we have the support, the machines, the quality and the ability to do things in a much faster rate that we could ever do before."

Thanks for checking out the EXBuild blog! For more information about how you can get started with additive manufacturing at your business, contact us today.