3D printing (also known as additive

3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) has already been adopted by many big names to replace their current prototyping methods and even to be used as part of the manufacturing process. With an increasing popularity that is already spreading into the consumer market, additive manufacturing is certainly one of the technologies to follow in the 21st century. But what are the real benefits of 3D printing?

Cheap Manufacturing

As discussed in the first post of this series, 3D printing is increasingly being used by large companies such as Converse or Alessi to replace some of their traditional manufacturing methods with cost savings of up to 70%. This is achieved through lower shipping and packaging costs related to overseas parts suppliers, less human resource involved and cheaper and sometimes more reliable raw materials.

Although currently 3D home-printed objects are not necessarily cheaper than their mass-manufactured counter parts, printing your own object a priceless experience for many (at least until its novelty wears off). 3D printed objects are only expected to get cheaper with improved additive manufacturing techniques, cheaper consumables, main stream adoption and self-replicating practices.

Quick Production

The speed of 3D printing compared to traditional methods is similar to comparing a sports car’s top speed to a horse cart’s. They both take you where you want to go but the journey time differs considerably. With industrial 3D printers being able to ‘manufacture’ most objects in a matter of hours, the classical manufacturing methods, taking up to several days or even weeks (from prototype to end product), are slowly becoming obsolete.

Industrial 3D Printer
Industrial 3D Printer
This leads to massive cost savings and to an on-demand manufacturingmodel. Why should you have warehouses filled up with stocks of your products if you can create them according to demand? Even if this model might not work with the big offline manufacturers due to their dependence on offline retailers that usually buy in bulk, it can prove extremely efficient for an online business.

Less waste

Manufacturing metal and plastic objects in particular is usually a wasteful process with chunky parts and a lot of surplus material. For some aircraft makers, up to 90% of the material is being cut away and no longer useful. Making a similar object using additive manufacturing not only uses less energy but also reduces waste to a minimum. And sometimes, the finished 3D printed product can be up to 60% lighter compared to the machined part but still as sturdy according to the Economist. Significant cost savings can be achieved in this way and less waste also means a lower impact on the environment.

Better quality

Think about 3D printing ascake baking. You can make a cake by whisking some cake mix, pouring it in an oven tray and baking everything. The result may taste amazing but it can have unwanted air bubbles inside, different thickness and all nuts or fruits could be grouped to one side. However, if you could assemble the cake layer by layer similar to additive manufacturing, you could achieve perfection through a full control of where each layer is going and how it fits with the rest.

Avoiding most of the mass manufacturing faults does not only make better products but it also extends their life as they will break less often. This is not necessarily a great benefit for manufacturers who need the product life cycle to be profitable, but it is certainly a major benefit for the end consumer.

Accessibility

With more people getting access to 3D printing, it may not be long until we will all have our own multi-purpose contraption (with additive manufacturing being only one of the many functionalities) capable of creating the products we need, when we need them. This can seriously shake up the current consumerism culture built on the contemporary industrial supply chain; nevertheless, it remains to be seen if this is only an ideology or a possible transitional period in human evolution.

Sustainability

3D Printed Fabrics
3D Printed Fabrics
Less waste compared to traditional manufacturing methods is not only a cost saving feature of 3D printing but also a possible eco-friendly attribute. Add to this the multi-purpose characteristic of a 3D printer (can build different objects without the need of using specialised machines for each part) and their digital ecosystem (all 3D models are transmitted electronically so in theory they can be printed out where they are needed, minimising therefore transport costs) and you get a sustainable manufacturing process. Integrating additive manufacturing with more classic production methods – as is the case with 3D printed textiles in the clothing industry – adds another layer (excuse the pun) to the sustainability case.

New shapes and structures

3D Printed Shape
3D Printed Geometric Shape
Traditional manufacturing methods rely on moulds an

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3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) has already been adopted by many big names to replace their current. Prototyping methods and even to be used as part of the manufacturing process. With an increasing popularity that is already. Spreading into the consumer market additive manufacturing, is certainly one of the technologies to follow in the 21st, century. But what are the real benefits of 3D printing?Cheap Manufacturing.As discussed in the first post of this series 3D printing, is increasingly being used by large companies such as Converse. Or Alessi to replace some of their traditional manufacturing methods with cost savings of up to 70%. This is achieved through. Lower shipping and packaging costs related to overseas parts suppliers less human, resource involved and cheaper and sometimes. More reliable raw materials.Although currently 3D home-printed objects are not necessarily cheaper than their mass-manufactured, counter parts printing. Your own object a priceless experience for many (at least until its novelty wears off). 3D printed objects are only expected. To get cheaper with improved additive techniques manufacturing, consumables cheaper, stream main adoption and self-replicating. Practices.Quick Production.The speed of 3D printing compared to traditional methods is similar to comparing a sports car 's top speed to a horse cart', s. They both take you where you want to go but the journey time differs considerably. With industrial 3D printers being able. To 'manufacture' most objects in a matter of hours the classical, manufacturing methods taking up, to several days or even. Weeks (from prototype to end product), are slowly becoming obsolete.Industrial 3D Printer.Industrial 3D Printer.This leads to massive cost savings and to an on-demand manufacturingmodel. Why should you have warehouses filled up with. Stocks of your products if you can create them according to demand? Even if this model might not work with the big offline. Manufacturers due to their dependence on offline retailers that usually buy in bulk it can, prove extremely efficient for. An online business.Less waste.Manufacturing metal and plastic objects in particular is usually a wasteful process with chunky parts and a lot of surplus. Material. For some, aircraft makers up to 90% of the material is being cut away and no longer useful. Making a similar object. Using additive manufacturing not only uses less energy but also reduces waste to a minimum. And sometimes the finished,, 3D printed product can be up to 60% lighter compared to the machined part but still as sturdy according to the, Economist. Significant cost savings can be achieved in this way and less waste also means a lower impact on the environment.Better quality.Think about 3D printing ascake baking. You can make a cake by whisking some cake mix pouring it, in an oven tray and baking. Everything. The result may taste amazing but it can have unwanted air bubbles inside different thickness, and all nuts or. Fruits could be grouped to one side. However if you, could assemble the cake layer by layer similar to, additive manufacturing. You could achieve perfection through a full control of where each layer is going and how it fits with the rest.Avoiding most of the mass manufacturing faults does not only make better products but it also extends their life as they. Will break less often. This is not necessarily a great benefit for manufacturers who need the product life cycle to, be profitable. But it is certainly a major benefit for the end consumer.Accessibility.With more people getting access to 3D printing it may, not be long until we will all have our own multi-purpose contraption. (with additive manufacturing being only one of the many functionalities) capable of creating the products, we need when. We need them. This can seriously shake up the current consumerism culture built on the contemporary industrial supply chain;? Nevertheless it remains, to be seen if this is only an ideology or a possible transitional period in human evolution.Sustainability.3D Printed Fabrics.3D Printed Fabrics.Less waste compared to traditional manufacturing methods is not only a cost saving feature of 3D printing but also a possible. Eco-friendly attribute. Add to this the multi-purpose characteristic of a 3D printer (can build different objects without. The need of using specialised machines for each part) and their digital ecosystem (all 3D models are transmitted electronically. So in theory they can be printed out where they are needed minimising therefore, transport costs) and you get a sustainable. Manufacturing process. Integrating additive manufacturing with more classic production methods - as is the case with 3D. Printed textiles in the clothing industry - adds another layer (excuse the pun) to the sustainability case.New shapes and structures.3D Printed Shape.3D Printed Geometric Shape.Traditional manufacturing methods rely on moulds an.