Though 3D printing technology has been around since the 1980s, its popularity has not been high due to high costs. However, as the technology continues to improve and gain accessibility, applications within the manufacturing industry are more and more prevalent each day. A recent article written by Adam Uzialko for Business News Daily looks forward to how 3D printing technology is, or will soon be, of great use to manufacturers.
3D printing is already of use in some areas of the manufacturing process, such as design and rapid prototyping, or even low-volume production. The technology is rapidly being refined and perfected and many manufacturers are eagerly seeking new applications within their companies. The most popular veins of use, at this point, include the following:
- Design – 3D printing allows designers to experiment with stronger and more interesting structures that simply weren’t possible previously.
- Prototyping – 3D printers reduce the time it takes to create a functioning prototype of a product, which leads to reduced costs across the board and shortens the time from development to market.
- Low–Volume Production – 3D printing allows for an agile development process. The future in this area looks like focused product teams with the ability to launch new products on a weekly or daily basis.
- A Mass-Production Future? – One of the main advantages of 3D printing production is its adaptability. While conventional methods, such as injection molding, take months to implement changes, with 3D printing it simply takes the click of a button!
For more details, read the article in full at Business News Daily.