The Advantages of 3D Printing
The 3D printing technology made its way to the technological world in 1986, but didn’t gain traction until the 1990′s. It was not that popular outside the world of engineering, architecture and manufacturing until the last few years. 3D printing is now one of the hottest and most interesting advancements in the design and marketing world today. This type of printing make it possible to create a part from scratch in just hours. It allows designers and developers to go from flat screen to an exact physical part. Here’s a quick
3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, is the process of creating 3D (three-dimensional) objects from a digital model. It is achieved with the use of additive processes, where the product is produced by positioning successive layers of material together. With the growing popularity in the consumer market, 3D printing is certainly one of the printing innovations to follow in the 21st century. Here’s a look at some of the real benefits of 3D printing.
New Structures and Shapes
Traditional manufacturing methods depend on cutting and moulding technologies to create a limited number of structures and shapes, with more intricate hollow ones having to be formed from a number of parts and assembled together. However, 3D printing technology transforms this process—the nozzle of the 3D printer can create many complex figures, being confined only by a person’s imagination. This method gives them higher structural integrity and more durability. The use of 3D printing technology takes virtual designs from animation modeling software or computer-aided design (CAD), converts them into thin, virtual, flat cross-sections and then produces successive layers until the complete model is produced. It is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) method where the physical model and the virtual model are almost the same. To create a model, you can hire early adopter communities or enthusiasts, with connections to both the hacker and academic communities.
New Combinations of Materials
Combining different raw materials isn’t always possible with mass production methods due to the high costs involved and to their chemical and physical properties that make them tricky to combine using traditional methods. 3D printing has eliminated many of these limitations not only because of the initial dependence on plastic, but also because of a constant innovation made by enthusiasts believing that 3D printing’s potential hasn’t been reached yet. Thus, a lot of companies now provide tens of different materials with unique finishes producing the feel and look of glass, ceramics or metal with a variety of strengths and temperature resistance.
Less Waste
Manufacturing plastic and metal objects in particular is generally a wasteful process with a lot of surplus materials and chunky parts. For some aircraft builders, up to 90 percent of the material is usually wasted. Creating a similar object with the use of additive manufacturing not only utilizes less energy, but also minimizes waste. Other objects that can be made with the use of additive manufacturing include jewelry, footwear, automotive parts, and more. Sometimes, the finished product of 3D printing can be up to 60 percent lighter than the machined part but still sturdy. Large cost savings can be attained in this way and a smaller amount of waste also means a lesser effect on the environment.
Cheap Manufacturing
3D printing helps companies save up to 70 percent of their manufacturing cost. This is attained through lower packaging and shipping costs related to more reliable and cheaper raw materials and lesser workforce needed, as well as overseas parts suppliers. In the end, this technology makes progressive companies more profitable.
Quick Production
The speed of 3D printing is quicker as compared to the traditional method. It’s similar to comparing the top speed of a sports car to a horse cart. They both take you to your destination, but the travel period differs significantly. With industrial 3D printing technologies being able to create an object in a few hours, the traditional manufacturing methods, taking up to two or more days (from prototype to finish product), are gradually becoming obsolete. This leads to an on-demand manufacturing model and to considerable cost savings. Why should you have stores filled up with stocks if you can make them based on the demand? Even if this scheme might not work with major offline manufacturers because of their independence on offline sellers that commonly purchase in bulk, it can prove very efficient for an online business. The possibilites of using this type of production are endless.
With so many potential benefits of 3D printing, there’s no surprise that this method is making its way through a diverse number of industries and quickly becoming a favorite tool of progressive marketers.