3D printing has found application in several industries. It is utilized within the business sectors such as medical, automotive, consumer goods, jewellery, entertainment, manufacturing, and plenty of additional. But is buying a 3D printer worth it? Look at the below advantages and decide for yourself:
• Affordability
3D printers serve as a more affordable option compared to traditional machining. You’ll be able to produce components through additive manufacturing which is far cost-effective than the traditional methods that utilized prototyping injections. The traditional process resulted in an expensive production run. As an example, within the medical application, 3D printed prosthetics are cheaper than stainless-steel ones. With 3D printing, customization is easy and more affordable.
• Customization
3D printing allows freedom in the design customization. You’ll be able to create changes to your designs without spending an additional penny. This flexibility has proved to be a boon to varied industries. It’s helped the medical as well as the dental industry within the production of custom prosthetics, implants, and dental aids. From fashion accessories to sporting gears, additive manufacturing allows the single-run production of custom parts that are affordable.
• Risk Mitigation
Investing in a faulty molding tool prototype can cost you lots of time and money. A small change in the mold could have a major financial impact on your project. You’ll be able to eliminate this risk by testing the design prototype through a 3D printer before investing in molds or jigs. Printing a production-ready prototype will build confidence and safeguard your investments against unnecessary losses.
• Sustainability
Traditional manufacturing ways lead to a high volume of waste material. Additive manufacturing solely uses the material that’s required to make a new part. This method utilizes raw materials which will be recycled for over one build. Therefore, 3D printing leads to very little to no waste materials.
• Speed of Production
Thanks to additive manufacturing, 3D printing can be done within hours. It allows designers to upload designs from a CAD model and get it printed swiftly. The process does not need any intervention. The freedom from constraints paves the means for additional productivity, quicker verification and development of design ideas, and fast work time. To put this advantage into perspective, it took many days, maybe even weeks to receive a prototype using traditional manufacturing techniques.
• Ease of Access
3D printing or Additive Manufacturing has been around for quite some time however it is only for the decade or so that it has grown exponentially in the market. This growth has resulted in a sizable amount of 3D printers enter the market that has created it easier for designers to realize access to additive technology. Did you recognize that there are 3D pens available now that can produce results similar to a 3D printer? The sole distinction is that the nozzle has to be controlled manually by you. While it was a niche technology available only to a small types of manufacturing industries initially, it is now widely available and utilized in a wide range of industries.
To summarize, with 3D printing you’ll be able to produce something. It is faster, cheaper, efficient, sustainable, and simply accessible. It is definitely worth it!
