5 Common Uses of 3D Printing Technology in Manufacturing

3D printers and their usage are becoming more common in several industries, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Many manufacturers are looking into 3D printing for mass production for the future. Until this technology reaches such a point, 3D printing can help out the manufacturing process to a major extent by being of value in producing an excellent prototype.

Making a useful prototype is among the earliest and most basic steps for any manufacturing process. A high-quality prototype ensures that the mass-produced items are also able to fulfill their role better.

Let’s dig deeper into the common uses of 3D printing within the manufacturing sector, especially with regards to creating prototypes:

1. Printing Molds

3D sand printing is now used in the transportation business for printing out certain cast molds. This allows companies to make several products that cater to a specific need, such as creating a quieter fan.

In this manner, the creation of new and customized parts may become quicker and miles more versatile than before. Along with this, the average cost of this manufacturing has been cut by thousands of dollars. The result is that customers receive the desired product sooner and can keep their work going without much loss.

2. Prototypes For Parts

Startup companies are now cropping up everywhere. They cater to a small audience at first, and then, gradually build their way up if possible. They begin by needing prototypes of their products to distribute to likely customers or cater to the unique and specific needs of their first few patrons. You can visit this website for more information on such uses.

This sort of easy prototyping by 3D printing leads to a higher level of cost-effectiveness and also lets the startup test out the market for their ideas. They can also experiment by creating plastic molds through 3D printing and may even be able to recycle the molds afterward.

Conventional molding, on the other hand, will cost more than double the amount that 3D plastic molding production incurs. The latter is hence an ideal choice for a struggling and environmentally-conscious startup.

3. Production At Low Volumes

The first few thousand parts manufactured come at a lower cost with 3D printing than with conventional molding. That much is obvious, but huge manufacturing companies go for the conventional method since they need to produce millions of units at a time.

The numbers of units where 3D printing is more cost-efficient are constantly rising, though, so it may be a good idea to opt for this option if you're just starting out.

For now, though, 3D printing is used by several small companies for launching new products every day or every week. This is by far the best choice for organizations that focus on products that showcase imagination, creativity, and a unique factor.

4. Designing

3D printing is a flexible and versatile technology. It allows design teams to experiment with their structural ideas and see what kind of result looks more attractive. It can even give shape to highly complicated shapes that other, more conventional methods may not have been able to produce.

This aspect of 3D printing in manufacturing makes it clear that this technology will not just be a replacement for traditional processes, but an enhancement of manufacturing itself. 3D printing gives companies the ability to produce more lightweight, delicate objects that can get the job done using less material, less assembly, and by using less labor than before.

With the reduced steps, there are also lower chances and risks of failure or error. An added bonus is reduced costs of quality assurance and inventory management.

5. Higher Client Engagement

In this day and age, letting the customer in on the manufacturing process may help you boost both sales and customer satisfaction.

3D printing can allow customers to view the CAD files for prototypes, visualize the design before the production starts, and get a quote for their customized product in a short period of time. The process of 3D printing allows a customer to be involved with the design’s creation on every level. Any adjustments in the lead time, the materials, or the final size can be made beforehand.