3D printing, otherwise known as additive manufacturing, is the process of creating a solid three-dimensional object or shape from a digital file. This type of manufacturing is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing which hollows or cuts out a chunk of plastic or another material with a milling machine. But what are the benefits of 3D printing? Keep reading below to find out:
1. It’s Fast
Perhaps one of the best benefits of 3D printing is the speed. Manufacturers can achieve high-volume production using Additive Manufacturing. In fact, 3D printers can manufacture parts within a couple of hours. This is excellent news for manufacturers as it can significantly speed up the prototyping process.
2. Create Strong and Durable Products
Another great benefit of 3D printers is that they can produce solid and durable products. However, it’s essential to be aware that the durability and strength of a product will depend on your design and the type of material you construct it from.
3. You Can Use a Range of Materials
Over the past few years, we’ve seen several changes with 3D printers. One of these changes is that 3D printers can now build products using various materials. Polymer is one of the leading materials used in 3D printers. It is the perfect choice of material for those wanting to create a robust and long-lasting product.
4. Design Customization
A 3D printer allows manufacturing companies to customize almost every part of their product. Manufacturing companies can use CAD software to design their product before transferring the file to a 3D printer. This allows for an exceptional level of customization.
5. Ease of Replication
Once you have designed your product and tested it to see if it works, you can start producing it. While it can be hard to produce exact replicas with other manufacturing methods, this isn’t the case with 3D printing. You simply need to ask the 3D printer to re-print the file.
6. Print on Demand
Another huge benefit of 3D printers is that you can print on demand. This means that you do not have to have a vast space to store your inventory. While this may not sound like a massive benefit, it is. This is because it can significantly reduce your business costs.
7. Better for the Environment
Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing is much better for the environment. This is because 3D printers use less material. As well as this, they also produce less waste than the other methods.
Although 3D printing was first introduced in the 1980s, it had very few uses. However, this has now changed. 3D printing is now used in many industries, from manufacturing to automotive. There are many reasons for this. Not only is it a great way to produce complex shapes, but it also uses fewer materials than other manufacturing methods. However, while this may be true, 3D printing still has a way to go before it can take over from other manufacturing methods.
