Solid Print
Use of A 3D Printer to Revolutionize Manufacturing
A dozen production machines engage in production, monitored by two people behind glass-fronted doors using computer screens. The machines are diverse in the range of products they help manufacture, from jewelry to plastic grips. The 3D system of production uses a beam of ultra-violet light to solidify a thin layer of liquid plastic. The process is repeated by adding more layers of liquid plastic. This process is known as addictive manufacturing, where more goods are being printed as finished goods. The process is fast gaining popularity, rising to 50% in the year 2016. The 3D printer significantly reduces the cost and timeframe of production. Additive production is ideally suited for low-volume production, since it doesn’t have the economies of scale. It allows mass customization of finished parts, for example dental crowns and shells for hearing aids.
Advantages of 3D Printing
An advantage of using the 3D model of production is primarily a minimization of waste, since it allows for the use of the exact weight in manufacturing through the addition process. Additionally, 3D production allows the designers to make things which were previously considered too complex and uneconomical. The use of computer software allows the production of uniform products at a cost that is lower than the conventional means.
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The additive manufacturing allows for extreme flexibility which provides easy customization of goods. The 3D printing is advantageous since it eliminates inventories and assembling, which allows redesigning of different products for higher performance. While the layer-by-layer accretion of objects may be considered economically slow, recent advances in technology have corrected this anomaly, enhancing mass production of goods. The flexibility offered by 3D method of production offsets the lack of economies of scale offered by conventional printing, since it produces the goods individually. Consequently, the product can be easily altered to suit specific needs. This feature makes 3D production most suited for production of one-off parts such as prototypes. Printing of parts and products also allows them to be designed with more complex design architectures. The additive methods are used to combine parts and generate far more interior detailing.
Applications of 3D Manufacturing
Recently, the U.S Department of Defense has partnered with various organizations such as the Oak Ridge Labs to develop a capability for printing most of the endo- and exoskeletons of jet fighters.
The 3D Printing Industrial Revolution
The hearing aid industry in the United States has been completely revolutionized. Within a period of 500 days, virtually all companies that switched to 3D printing and production survived the hugely competitive industry. 3D production allows for production of quality goods and ensures cost effectiveness by elimination of assembly. The production of hearing aids has been made seamless. All companies that stuck to the traditional methods of production have been wiped out, further highlighting the importance of the 3D method of production to the survival of a business. The software can be endlessly tweaked and it can make just about anything, albeit with less economies of scale.
