3D printing is gradually changing the ways of manufacturing,
production and our lifestyle. What is it? How do they do it? Why would I
need it? Those are questions you are probably asking yourself right now.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing,
is a branch of the rapid prototyping family and is the process of turning digital files into physical products, parts and components via the use of a
3D printing device.
3D models are created via the build up of layers of a chosen
material, typically and the most commonly used material is ABS plastic, however
other materials can be used, such as metals and ceramics. So how long does it
take to produce such products? The answer is simple, the bigger the model size-
the longer the process time. So why do we need 3D printing and what benefits can
it offer you?
To date, many 3D printed products have been created, from
promotional gifts and household objects to furniture and even medical
appliances. 3D printing is gradually
making a solid and effective entrance into the design and manufacturing
industry, but has a lot of further consideration and development to be done.
But the main reason why people are taking advantage of 3D
printing these days is for the rapid production of prototypes for design
development and visualization. Due to the quick production time, designers can quickly transform their 3D
files into 3D models at the click of a button. This can be extremely useful
in terms of product testing and making sure parts/components are being produced
the way they are intended on screen. It also offers the designer a greater feel
and hands on experience with the product, rather than simple rotations and
angle changes of a 3D file on screen.
Further advantages of 3D printing:
- Shape and form experimentation
- Faster communication between client and user.
- Cheap manufacturing
- Fast time to market.
- Reduced travel and manufacturing development costs.
So far from this post, you would think 3D printing surely is
the future of design,manufacture and production, which in the long run
probably is. However, there is a lot of work to be done and a lot of
considerations to take. For example, although real-sized models can be made
rapidly, production time for large items can take a long time, and in the long
run this may slow down development timing. Once a 3D product has been created,
surface treatments such as polishing/sanding is required as the layers are
visible to the naked eye, further increasing timing and costs. However the most
crucial factor to consider is the initial machine costing. 3D printers are not
cheap. It is an investment to consider, but once obtained, one's design options
will be expanded greatly.
So how can 3D printing help us in the long run? There are
many future plans for the use of 3D printing and ways in which it can be
applied to user products and appliances. There are already major development
plans for 3D printing to be used to create household structures and frames,
architecture that would not be able to be created with the current technology
we have. Intricate shaped buildings and crazy futuristic venues are just a few
of the future architectural plans. But some of the most important and crucial
future applications of 3D printing are printing organs and prosthetics for those
who are injured and in need. This could be a fantastic leap within the
healthcare industry and impact greatly in terms of rapid cures and recovery.
