Bar code reader made by 3D printing

Proglove is a young and innovative company dedicated to the production of smart barcode readers that are incorporated into gloves! In total, Proglove produces three variants of their MARK reader: short-range, long-range, and now, the new MARK Display, which brings the user more information (e.g., the number of pieces that need to be picked for an order). The company also provides the interconnectivity between individual products through an application and is currently working on a cloud-based solution that will enable the reporting of usage statics for individual devices. Thanks to this, the company will be able to improve individual processes and increase efficiency.

Proglove started 3D printing of final products at a time when it was mainly used for producing prototypes. They utilized FDM printers for producing the initial prototypes. However, at present, 3D printing already allows for much more. Proglove cooperates with DyeMansion which specializes in technology for the post-processing treatment of parts.

After 3D printing the barcode readers, individual parts are automatically cleaned (Powershot C) and then surface-treated (PolyShot Surfacing), which gives the surface a semi-gloss and scratch-resistant finish. Finally, the parts are dyed (DM60). Thanks to DeepDye Coloring technology, the surface is evenly colored orange. Using these reliable post-processing technologies allows the company to iteratively develop and improve the final product while competing with traditional production technologies such as injection molding.