The manufacturing process of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, features various raw materials added in cross-section layers to create a three-dimensional object. This revolutionary technology has a number of advantages. For instance, unlike traditional manufacturing, the cost of a product decreases as the complexity of the object increases. In spite of this, most manufacturers are slow to adopt this process.
Due to its ability to create complex objects for a relatively low price and only being limited by the amount of raw materials used, 3D printing seems to be a wise investment for manufacturers at first glance. Even the 3D printers themselves are comparatively inexpensive, and some consumers have purchased their own devices to create niche products.
However, on a larger scale, the adoption of 3D printing is a bit more complicated. Traditional manufacturing methods create a large number of simple parts quickly and efficiently, while additive manufacturing is a slow process incapable of producing objects in large quantities. In an industrial setting, the need for speed and quantity outweigh the 3D printer's complexity advantage. 3D printing is also limited in the types of raw materials that can be used, further restricting its industrial usefulness.
An article by the New York Times details how watchmakers have been slow to adopt this new manufacturing process. The 3D printing process is not yet able to create parts with the precision needed for moving watch pieces. However, some manufacturers have started using the process to create cases and other crude parts.
Although 3D printing is promising, it is far from an exact science as evidenced by the gun that was experimentally produced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives using blueprints that were publicly available online in 2013. When made with Visijet plastic, the gun exploded during a test firing.
Despite these setbacks, you can already see 3D printing in a number of real-world applications. These printers are widely used by designers to create 3D prototypes, and they already have a strong foothold in the manufacturing industry, as they are being used to create molds and parts used in the manufacturing process. They are also being used within the medical industry to create custom-made hearing aids and even replacement organs for the human body. Additionally, 3D printers are being used by companies like Hershey and Hasbro to let consumers make their own chocolates and toys.
According to a report by Juniper Research, the sales of 3D printers are predicted to rise to more than one million units by 2018, but 2014 sales are predicted to be closer to 40,000. As 3D printing technology advances, you can expect to see more and more of its real-world applications, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
(Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles / freedigitalphotos.net)
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!