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3d printing technology: The Cost-Effective 3d printing technology

It is impossible to believe what all changes the 3d printing technology has brought to our lives. From witnessing a dress being 3d printed to pieces of beautiful jewelry being printed; the human eyes have been lucky enough to watch all the tremendous transitions happening in the printing industry. Let’s wind our watches, rewind time and take the instance of say around 50 years from hence. To a time when there was not even the slightest clue that technology would someday make such a huge transformation that there would be printers out of which dresses, shoes, jewelry, etc would come out rather than just paper.

To a time when our technology was so back forward that our ancestors couldn’t even imagine in the wildest of their dreams that one-day humankind would develop so much that they would produce machines which could make virtual products look like real to a very large extent. Taking into account the progress of additive manufacturing in the field of printing, we may observe that it has become one of those industries which have seen the most advancement in their field of work.

3d printing technology

The 3d printing technology also known as additive manufacturing is a digital manufacturing process which involves the printing of three-dimensional objects using the layer by layer processing with the help of a variety of ceramics, metals, and polymers. It takes digital files and turns them into reality by creating a realistic physical part. This method of manufacturing has proved its worth by winning the trust of thousands of people with its high-quality final products.

How has this method of manufacturing proved as a game changer?

Just like the name goes ‘Additive manufacturing’ does not lead to the subtraction of the product material instead it involves a layering process in which the material is laid layer by layer until the desired object is obtained.
From rapid prototyping to finished products to self-replicating machines; 3d printing is the solution.
Manufacturing speed is faster than what other manufacturing industries assure.
It can produce just about anything; from a keychain to spare parts of an automobile. Anything is possible via 3d printing.

Is 3d printing technology affordable?

Additive manufacturing cuts down the cost of the product and is affordable for normal people because of the following reasons:

Labor costs

It just requires a press of a button and putting in information the customer wants. Since the whole process is almost fully automatic it cuts the labor costs meant for the product

A huge boon for the Medical Industry

It does not add to the cost of surgery which in turn brings down costs in terms of operation time, failed surgery cost and other expenses.

No added cost for complexity

Price increases with complexity in the traditional method of manufacturing. It is not the case with 3d printing, which creates an entire piece in one process, instead of creating each component before assembling.

Make it just how you want it to be

You can design your own product without any additional cost because we believe you know the best.

Advances

3d printing service have advanced so much with the passage of time that now it can print about anything; literally anything. Though it has not reached a level where it can compete with the traditional means of manufacturing but it has become capable enough to stand strong as a single industry of manufacturing. Human nature has always promoted creativeness and uniqueness; both these qualities combined together have given birth to a new and innovative print industry – The 3d printing industry. Do you want the heart-shaped or any personalized chocolates for Valentine’s Day coming up? Well, 3d printing is the solution for you. The latest discovery of chocolate ink will come to your rescue. The process is similar to a chef pushing cream or custard through a spout to make a fancy design, except the machine, repeats this process over and over, and it is much more accurate.

Additive manufacturing has achieved huge heights of success and the day is not quite far when it would become difficult for the human eyes to differentiate between what is natural and what is manmade (3d printed).

Looking ahead in the future, the 3d printing technology undoubtedly is going to change the way we look at things. It is going to give a tough competition to all the other industry segments with its improvement in product quality and techniques.

3d Printed Building In Dubai

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3d Printing Service Cost: Benefit To Companies By Cost Reduction In 3d Printing

3d Printing Service Cost

The implications of emerging technologies such as 3d printing on the industrial manufacturing market are often hotly debated. Some experts in the industry feel that it will be hugely disruptive, while others believe the technology is decades away from viability. Forecasts project significant growth in the industry over the next five years. As stated by the website On 3d printing, “The 3d printing industry is expected to change nearly every industry it touches, completely disrupting the traditional manufacturing process. As a result, the projected value of the industry is
expected to explode in the near future.”

In fact, On 3d printing projects that the market for 3d printing technology itself is expected to grow to $5.2 billion by 2020. As the market grows and the cost of printers falls, it is likely to give rise to new competitors in traditional markets. Moreover, it leads to spur of innovative new products, as prototypes for new products will become significantly less expensive and less risky to fabricate. Yet product development and the competitive environment are just two of the potential implications. This emerging technology is also likely to have a significant impact on how manufacturers do business, specifically as it relates to shifts in material cost, incremental-cost calculations, and traditional assembly line and product pricing strategies.

3d Printing Service Cost: Material Cost Savings

3d printing service cost

3d printing technology has the potential to make the manufacturing process options infinite and extremely precise. For example, today, using what’s known as“subtractive process,”if you want apart made out of aluminum, a block is placed into a CAD system and the excess material is cut away to make the part. Using this process, approximately 60 to 70 percent of the aluminum block ends up as scrap depending on the complexity and shape needed. The scrap is later melted down and reused for future manufacturing needs. By contrast, 3d printing technology is “additive,” and manufacturers are able to use the minimum material needed to fabricate a part.

In the example above, using a 3d printer could essentially eliminate the process of melting down excess scrap material and wasted resources, ultimately driving down total material costs for the manufacturer. As a result, the 3d printing service cost gets reduced to a great extent. For the manufacturing industry in general, this could significantly reduce capital tied up in raw materials and costs to reclaim scrap.

Improvement to incremental cost calculations

While the initial cost of a 3d printer could be upwards of a million dollars, the technology has the potential to substantially reduce incremental unit costs for a manufacturer. There is a considerable chance that a part made on a 3d printer could cost far less than one completed through traditional manufacturing processes. Eventually, the industry may reach a tipping point where the fully allocated 3d printing service cost will fall well below the traditional manufacturing process—even with the upfront investment in the printers themselves. If that’s the case, then it is likely we will see a complete shift in the way industrial manufacturing is done.

Assembly line and pricing strategy transformation

During the manufacturing process, sales teams must work very closely with the production teams to make sure all delivery dates are met and the customer is kept happy from point of sale through production and delivery. In a traditional assembly line process for engineered-to-order products, for instance, the tools and material must be changed out for each individual job and reprogrammed for each customer and product.

Advantages of 3d printing

3d printing service cost

With 3d printing, the production team is given greater flexibility since assembly is a single operation and set up time is reduced to nearly zero. Due to flexibility in this new assembly line process, sales reps would be able to push orders through faster and in a greater capacity, since they are fulfilled almost immediately without waiting for optimal production windows which can accommodate the particular tooling or a material used for each order. Additionally, the manufacturing process can be done at a lower cost and every order can be treated like a rush order with shorter production time. On the other hand, shorter production time and lower overhead costs to the manufacturer doesn’t mean that companies will no longer be able to collect value out of a strategic pricing process. The low 3d printing service cost increases its value in the market.

Companies may still be able to charge the same price and even enjoy an increased margin rate due to the specificity and uniqueness of products available via 3d printing processes. Because the manufacturers’ costs are less, they can decide how much of that cost savings to pass along as a price reduction to customers in order to secure business. And, keep it out of the hands of competition, or how much to keep in their pockets as increased profits. For now, the impact of 3d printing on industrial manufacturing is merely a theory. But, manufacturers who choose to ignore the benefits and transformation associated with this technology risk falling prey to those that embrace it.

The future

3d printing continues to evolve at a rapid pace and each day we’re seeing something new created from it. What started as fabrication of plastic screws and small parts made of glass has turned into full manufacturing of complete end-products. Now, it includes working automobiles and even buildings have been 3d printed in a single manufacturing action. This proves that the possibilities of 3d printing technology are endless for manufacturers.

3d Printed Statues: Restoring History Using 3d Printing

Chinmay Rathi In 3d printing

3d Printing Sand Casting: Lowering Sand Casting Production Cost Using 3d Printing

3d Printing Sand Casting

Sand casting is the age-old process in which casting of metal is done using a mold made of sand. It is the most economical and efficient way of producing metal patterns. This technique is basically used by primary manufacturers, consisting of small pattern shops and foundries.The process is quite simple to follow and can be used by anyone, even by students. The process includes the making of a mold by using various patterns and layout. The molten material is then poured into the mold, left to cool and solidify. Then, the solid sand mold is removed and the metal item is ready for further processing.

Now the question arises if the sand casting is an efficient method, why move on to 3d printing industry?

The answer lies in the very approach to the 3d printing.

The 3d printing industry can eliminate the very problems the industry currently faces.

Benefits of 3d printing sand casting

In the conventional approach, a manufacturer had to wait till a mold was formed to cast the metal piece. 3d printing would specialize in outsourcing in-house.
The execution time will decrease, increasing efficiency.
The patterns used now are manufactured manually leaving room for error, which can be eliminated by using 3d printing.
A quick modification of patterns can be done easily, which was not possible if conventional mold-making is considered.
It can reduce manufacturing costs up to 60% of what is now incurred.
The materials used are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS) which are way stronger than those from CNC molds used now.
High degree of flexibility can be achieved, ranging from the design of molds to the size of the batch.
It also reduces the storage space required to store additional tools for repair and maintenance.
It promotes Toolless engineering.
Complex designs can be cast directly rather than producing different parts and joining them together, reducing delivery time.

Why use 3d printing sand casting?

The usage of 3d printing in sand casting can be beneficial, in the correct circumstances.

It is particularly beneficial if used within low to medium level of production, for example, say 5000 parts. The complex designing process is automated which provides accuracy and reduced execution time. Last, but not the least, the mold should be compatible with the printer, its size must be bigger than the printer, otherwise, problems might occur.

Since time is money, and there is no possible way to ignore the level of productivity with time, keeping all the above factors in mind, the 3d printing is a far superior alternative to the conventional sand casting process.

It should be that due to the advent of 3d printing, conventional sand casting is not used. It should be kept in mind, that 3d printing can be combined with the conventional process at will, thus innovation can occur hand in hand with technology and knowledge.

3d Printed Statues: Restoring History Using 3d Printing

Chinmay Rathi In 3d printing

Advances In 3d Printing: Innovations And Potential For Future Growth

The young 3d printing industry has started to revolutionize every sphere of life. Owing to lower costs, higher accuracy, high execution time, availability of new materials and faster, portable applications, new techniques, and innovations are enriching the industry worldwide. It has entered each and every sphere of our life and some of the innovations are overwhelming, the picture showing what our existing world can become. There have been many advances in 3d printing since its inception. Some major advances in 3d printing are discussed below.

Major advances in 3d printing

Defense

advances in 3d printing

The biggest example, to witness the advances in 3d printing, is the defense sector. 3d printing is making waves in the defense industry, it demands precise design within the stipulated time, and more prototypes are required for mockups, at a low cost. The U.S. Government has started developing FDM system using 3d printing. The Tiberius fully made with 3d printing, is being commissioned in U.S. army.

Housing and architecture

3d printing is now being used to build houses, yes you read it correctly. The Chinese construction company WinSun Decoration Design Engineering has done this impossible feat by printing 10 houses in one day. It has now gone on to print an entire 5-story apartment building and a standalone villa. The aim is to be able to construct homes at affordable prices for the Chinese market. The smaller houses cost just around €4,500 ($5,000) to produce. The most popular project is the 3d Print Canal House in Amsterdam which was done by a 3d printer.

3d print canal house

The first pedestrian bridge was inaugurated 14th of December of 2016 in the urban park of Castilla-La Mancha in Alcobendas, Madrid. The 3DBUILD technology used was developed by ACCIONA.

Consumer

The objectives of aesthetic testing, a creation of lifelike prototypes and use of different materials made 3d printing into. 3d printing is being used extensively for making electronic goods, such as motherboards of laptops, the drones and also in Robotics.

Fashion

Cuddly teddy bears straight off the printer? The Disney Research Team in the United States has found a way to print in wool, meaning that alongside hard, precise objects, this new technology can now also be used to create things that are soft and squeezable. The printer builds up the yarn in layers, producing a unified mass that looks and feels like felt. In collaboration with a team from Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute in Pennsylvania, USA, they even printed a move-able teddy bear arm.

Biomedicine

advances in 3d printing

While 3d printing is already widely used in dentistry to print teeth and parts of jawbones, In the first clinical trial of its kind, a team at University College London has been carrying out tests and is months away from implanting the printed ears into patients. The team is also working on printed noses, tracheae, tear ducts or blood vessels. It is a cost-effective solution and can be personalized with the requirements of a person. 3d printing has made people with standing difficulties, walk for the first time.

Aircraft designing

advances in 3d printing

3d printing is also being used extensively in aircraft designing. Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer, is already using a variety of 3d printed plastic and metal brackets in its fleet of developmental aircraft. Airbus estimates 3d printing could reduce its raw material costs by up to 90% as it reduces the need for raw materials and carbon footprint.

Metallurgy

advances in 3d printing

3d printing in metal is pricey. But Argentinian engineer Gastón Accardi has come up with a metal printer that cost him less than €2 to make. Essentially a marker filled with a copper acid solution, it uses the concept of electroplating to build up 3d objects layer by layer in different types of metal. Although still a little slow, the machine could one day be a boost to small businesses.

Automotive industry

In 2014, Local Motors printed the first 3d-printed car from an ABS carbon-fiber blend (about 80/20 respectively) called Strati. Today, the company has three models and an autonomous electric-powered shuttle named Olli. In addition, Honda released a new version of the Micro-Commuter in October at CEATEC 2016 in Japan. A single-seater with about a 50-mile driving range, the body and majority of the panels on the Micro-Commuter are 3d printed. In early 2014, Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg announced the One; a supercar that utilizes many components that were 3d printed. The One has side-mirror internals, air ducts, titanium exhaust components, and complete turbocharger assemblies that were 3d printed as part of the manufacturing process.

Urbee is the name of the first car in the world car mounted using the technology 3d printing (its bodywork and car windows were “printed”). Created in 2010 through the partnership between the US engineering group Kor Ecologic and the company Stratasys (manufacturer of printers Stratasys 3d), it is a hybrid vehicle with a futuristic look.

Food industry

advances in 3d printing

Italian food producer, Barilla, is using 3d printing for custom pasta production. A German nursing home uses a 3d printer to create a food product called Smooth foods. It is a concoction of mashed peas, carrot, and broccoli. This tasty dish is then congealed with edible glue and served to elderly residents who face difficulties in chewing.

Oil and gas industry

advances in 3d printing

The 3d printing is also making way into oil and gas industry. It has a possibility to reduce transportation costs, storage costs and decrease the cost of drilling oil. General Electronics has started making nozzles using 3d. Gartner predicts that 10% of gas companies will use AM in the production of parts by 2019.

Future growth of the industry

advances in 3d printing

The advances in 3d printing prove that this industry is touted to increase at a phenomenal rate.

advances in 3d printing

According to the market research report “3d Printing Market by Offering (Printer, Material, Software, Service), Process (Binder Jetting, Direct Energy Deposition, Material Extrusion, Material Jetting, Powder Bed Fusion), Application, Vertical, and Geography-Global Forecast to 2023”, the 3d printing market is expected to be worth USD 32.78 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 25.76% between 2017 and 2023.

Future Of 3d Printing In India

Chinmay Rathi In 3d printing

3d Printing Business: How is 3d Printing Changing The Life Of Entrepreneurs?

3d printing business: Ways 3d printing is changing the way we do business

3d printing has loomed on the horizon for many years. Only now has the technology advanced to such an extent that we can confidently say it is becoming a practical part of the way businesses operate today. APWC survey revealed that 11% of manufacturing companies had already started to mass produce 3d printed parts. In addition, as quality continues to increase, 3d printing will continue to change the way we do business. Therefore, it is apparent that the 3d printing business is going to increase in future.

This article will investigate how 3d printing will change a variety of businesses. Products Coming to Market Faster: What a lot of people don’t know is that 3d printing has been used to create prototypes for over 20 years. However, this took time and three or four design cycles could take months. It meant new products took almost a year to actually make it to market.

Companies like UPS, have entered the arena and with same-day production and same-day delivery, design concepts that took months to build can happen in a matter of days. According to CGTrader.com,”3d printing has and will continue to open up truly rapid prototyping, enabling customers to get the products they crave faster.” From a business point of view, this forces everyone to move faster than ever before. Bigger companies that can afford this technology now have a distinct advantage, and smaller companies are either going to have to invest or fall.

Added Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in 3d printing business

The speed and increasing cost-effectiveness of 3d printing are providing massive opportunities for entrepreneurs. One of the reasons for this is simply due to how many industries 3d printing can touch. Entrepreneurs have always had the disadvantage of taking time to produce a prototype investor can look at. This is also extremely expensive so it meant many entrepreneurs could take years to actually begin raising money. The increasing accessibility of 3d printing will change the way we do business by opening up more chances for entrepreneurs to enter markets that were previously difficult to enter.

Will this mean additional innovation in 3d printing business?

There is a good chance this is exactly what it will mean. Entrepreneurs will able to test more and be more daring.In the long-term, it could lead to faster innovations in a range of industries, including jewelry and surgical prosthetics.

A Boost for Small Businesses

Small businesses have a number of problems unique to them, particularly in the manufacturing industry. They lack the space needed for heavy machinery and storage. Also, they lack the funds for the latest innovations. They lack the time to produce a range of products. Most of the time, it is a matter of relying on that one great idea. 3d printing will change this. This technology can produce the same parts as other types of heavy machinery. The catch is it takes up a fraction of the space and costs but a fraction of the original price.

Small businesses will find that while they have no choice but to embrace the 3d printing revolution when they do they will be on better terms with their larger competitors. 3d printing will give the same benefits to a small company as it will a large company. 3d printing, once it becomes the norm, could start an era of rapid growth for small businesses. Increasingly, the business world will see small companies evolving into medium and large-sized organizations.

Should big companies be worried?

While this is certainly not a reason for big companies to begin worrying about competition, they should keep looking over their shoulders. No longer will be producing the same products with minor changes be acceptable. They will have to do more in order to continue to secure their dominance.

It is clear that 3d printing is set to change the world in many ways. Nowhere will this become more apparent than in business.For now, 3d printing will continue to improve. It will be a few years before it becomes the norm. However, companies that decide to act now will have a distinct advantage over their competitors. They will find that they have a lot to gain by opting for early 3d printing optimization. Additionally, it could lead to big things going forward for them.

3d Printed Circuit Board: 3d Printing In Electronics Industry

Chinmay Rathi In 3d printing

3d Printing in Orthodontics: Transforming dentistry

3d printing is one of the greatest technology invented that is shaping the future of manufacturing industry. It has a great impact on the manufacturing sector since past many years. In recent times, 3d printing has made its mark in the medical field. Orthodontics is one among them, which is going to experience a huge transition with the advent of 3d printing. 3d printing in orthodontics will transform it to a great extent. Ranging from dental implants to teeth restorations wide variety of things can be optimized using the 3d printing technology.

Objet260 3d Printer by Stratasys

Stratasys has unveiled Object OrthoDesk 3d Printer to 3d print surgical guides which help doctors to perform with freedom and identify beforehand the defect areas which in turn is a great advancement for minor error surgery. Also, dental implants are being made with the help of this technology creating precise structures with a fine texture which is being considered as a great alternative for the traditionally manufactured one. Using technologies like stereolithography, dental materials with temperature resistant properties can be created. Which in turn improves the quality and life of the implant that is being imparted to the patient.

Advantages of 3d printing in orthodontics

3d printed orthodontic model

The 3d printing in orthodontics is also used for creating teeth protectors that are transparent; Also, keeping in mind that the strength and durability of the product are on point. Dental Medicine research is being conducted in leading universities using Laser Polymerization techniques to develop high-quality materials with improved characteristics. Digital manufacturing and 3d printing are changing the workflow and practice of Dentists and Dental Technicians.

Through these advancements, the process and practice have become easy and has led to significant increase in success rates. Everyday new research is being carried out in 3d printing field for the advancement not only in dentistry but also in the medical field in general. 3d printing still has a lot of potentials that can be implemented for the betterment of the healthcare industry.

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Nanotechnology And 3d Printing

3d Printed Lens: 3d Printed Camera Lens

Chinmay Rathi In 3d printing

Nanotechnology And 3d Printing

Nanotechnology, like 3d printing, is one of the areas in which research and progress have been most plentiful in the past few years. They’re both on their way to revolutionizing a wide range of fields, from medicine to production, from the global economy to space exploration. The definition adopted by the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which is very broad, is that nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers. Just like 3d printing, nanotechnology has an extremely wide range of possible applications: surface science, organic chemistry, molecular biology, semiconductor physics, microfabrication, molecular engineering, nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, biomaterials, energy production, consumer products, etc. The combination of nanotechnology and 3d printing can benefit the nanofabrication to a great extent.

3d printing at the nanoscale is not a thing of the future anymore.

Different techniques to use the combination of nanotechnology and 3d printing

Chemically, using DNA: if you think about it, nature is made of billions of nanoscale 3d printers, creating 3d structures from digital information (in this scenario, DNA is like your STL file!). Using proteins, we can create nanomachines.
By building layer by layer with layers that are one atom thick, using focused-electron-beam-induced deposition (FEBID).
Two-Photon Polymerization, which is a technique similar to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), based on the interaction of femtosecond laser radiation which induces a highly localized chemical reaction leading to polymerization of the photosensitive material with current resolution down to 100 nm.

These three techniques allow the 3d printing of nano-objects

To give a few examples:

Jan Torgersen created a 3d printer which is able to produce nano-scaled objects suitable for numerous applications in photonics, surface modifications, and biomedical engineering. It’s currently the fastest of its kind and brings the technology closer to industrial applications. How it works got illustrated recently by a video that went around the world, showing the construction of a racing car model at the scale of a human hair. He talks about it in his TED Talk: “The race to the bottom“.

Nano-scale Formula 1 racing car

The company Nanoscribe applies stereolithography to the nanoscopic world. With their Photonic Professional GT machine, they can create objects as small as only a few microns.

Nanotechnology can also be used to enhance the materials that are 3d printed. For example, research has been carried out by using a carbon-based filament for FDM 3d printing, in order to make it electrically conductible. Carbon nanotubes can also be used to reinforce plastic objects that were 3d printed using FDM: the plastic filament is coated with a carbon nanotube ink. This ink will then be subjected to microwaves: carbon nanotubes have the particularity of heating up particularly fast in response to microwaves, while the plastic used in FDM doesn’t. This will make the plastic filament melt slightly, and bond together better, making the finished object much stronger. This is explained in Brandon Sweeney’s TEDx Talk, “Innovation in 3D printing – nanomaterials & microwaves”.

The applications of the combination of nanotechnology and 3d printing

The applications of the combination of nanotechnology and 3d printing are wide-ranging, and probably go beyond what we can imagine now. To mention only a few examples:

In 2013, American researchers managed to 3d print extra efficient batteries the size of a grain of sand, by using ink containing Lithium-ion nanoparticles! It’s easy to imagine such batteries being used in nanoelectronics, like very small cameras.
Another application is infiltration systems: with Nanoscribe’s machine, it is possible to create nanofluidic filters inside channels that are only a micrometer wide.
Printable electronics: we can imagine, for the future, 3d printing flexible screens or flexible batteries, that are so thin they can be rolled up and fit in a pocket!

Read more:

3d Printed Dress: Synapse Dress

Future Of 3d Printing In India

Chinmay Rathi In 3d printing

3d Printed Products: Determining Their Quality

With the rapid-spreading adoption of 3d printing technology across all industries, 3d printers have been hyped as a future everyday use machine as the ink jet printer you put on your home table or office desk today. Yes indeed, why should you bother calling the ever-occupied customer services and waiting for two weeks to get a spare knob for your broken dishwasher when you can print it right at home within a couple of hours? The 3d printed products have proved to be of great advantage in various fields. This idea of convenient and free 3d printing at home sounds very attractive, but is it truly feasible?

3d printed products

How does traditional manufacturing works?

The current mainstream technology in the manufacturing process is plastic injection moulding. It takes four main steps to launch a new product:

Specification
Design
Engineering
Production

The specification refers to the set of activities to define the high-level and detailed-level of product functions:

Dimensions,
Mechanical strength,
Visibility

In other words, what the products should do to meet the perceived market needs. Based on the specifications, a team of design engineers will go through every detail of the specifications and turn them into a particular product that meets the requirements at the same time can be manufactured in the volume under current machining conditions, considering factors like materials, mechanical properties, software applications, costs, time to produce, etc. Then a group of product engineers will take care of the multi-step engineering process including manufacturing samples, several rounds of the quality check based on the feedback loop, and final products. They also need to deal with issues of cost, producibility, performance, reliability, serviceability, expected lifespan and user features.

After all these steps, the production will begin. But till then there are still possibilities of problems that occur due to neglects of one or two tiny details in the former steps and the manufacturing process will loop back to the beginning of the process.

Product Quality Planning Cycle

Difference of 3d printing from the traditional process

To much concern, there is no major difference. 3d printing shares the main features of any other traditional manufacturing process. 3d printing demands the same level of expertise that involves groups of multi-disciplined engineers. It is therefore unreasonable to imagine that industrial-level production by 3d printing will be performed anytime soon in customers’ houses! Ensuring the consistent quality of final 3d printed products requires both steps 4 and 5 of the APQP process: ensuring product & process validation, then monitoring production performances and applying corrective actions in case of process divergence.

How do we make it possible to make 3d printed products on-demand and directly in where the demand is?

To do so, the quality assurance system shall at least cover two aspects:

Ensuring that the outcome of industrialization (the process of converting a design into a production process) fulfills the design specifications.
Monitoring quality consistency of the 3d printed products in the distributed production process.

During industrialization, engineers outline the optimum set of parameters that will define how the part will be printed by the 3d printer. These include variables such as printing temperature, speed, and tool path. Factors that are taken into account while defining these parameters include part geometry, mating features such as keyways, and the required mechanical strength. This process can be re-iterative to ensure the final print is of the highest quality. Finally, a set of final parts are produced, and their dimensional and mechanical features tested and verified,
before the set of computer instructions or ‘G-code’used to print the part is finalized.

When the part is required to be produced at one of the 3d printing service providers, the final G-code is transferred securely through an online 3d printing cloud service. Before production commences, the printer(s) at the provider is calibrated to ensure that their X, Y, Z calibration, and extrusion state are within acceptable bounds. This is carried out by running a set of calibration tests on the printer(s). The same set of calibration tests are conducted on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. It is done to ensure that the industrialization process is carried out on well-tuned and properly functioning printers.

Chinmay Rathi In 3d printing

3d Printing Success- What’s The Reason Behind It?

3d printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has made a strong stand in the printing industry by giving a tough competition to the traditional method of manufacturing. It has successfully left its impact in every nook and corner of this wide world. The production of prototypes, jewelry, architecture, portraits, aerospace, medical field been affected by the advancement in 3d printing. Food Science has also witnessed a major change with the coming up of 3d printing. You can now print out your favorite chocolates the way you want to eat it. That made you skip a beat, didn’t it? This is the magic of 3d printing success; renovating the wildest impossible ideas and presenting it to the real world in the most artistic way possible.

What’s the reason behind 3d printing success?

This printing industry has been successful in gaining popularity and firming its position in this ever-advancing business. Quality of phenomenally managing time and thus helping its customers to get their products to develop faster than ever, reducing the cost of the final product leading to a cost-effective result has led to consumer satisfaction at a bigger scale. It involves a technology of printing by interpreting the digitally supplied coordinates with the help of a 3d printer.

Now, you might think how does this make it better?

Well, describing the product is sometimes a very difficult thing to do because it leaves construction up to the imagination. A picture always acts up as a savior since it is worth a thousand words. There is no ambiguity when you hold the exact replica or at least a very close representation of your artifact. 3d printing industry allows self-designing of a product by its customers which makes it a creative industry. All this has led to the major 3d printing success.

Additive manufacturing has witnessed a huge transition if we compare its present development to when it started back in 1986 by ‘CHUCK HULL’. Though, it is not possible to completely eradicate the traditional method of manufacturing it is strongly believed that 3d printing would give a tough competition to the printing industry in the coming years.

3d Printing In Automotive Industry

Remarkable advances in additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, commonly known as 3d printing, over the past decade have helped to transform the prospective ways in which products are designed, developed, manufactured, and distributed. For the automotive industry, these advances have opened doors for newer designs; cleaner, lighter, and safer products; shorter lead times and lower costs. While automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers primarily use AM for rapid prototyping, the technical trajectory of AM makes a strong case for its use in product innovation and high-volume direct manufacturing in the future. 3d printing in automotive industry has revived it.

New developments in AM processes, along with related innovations in fields such as advanced materials, will benefit production within the automotive industry as well as alter traditional manufacturing and supply chain pathways. The very famous Shelby Cobra and Local Motors 3d printed car are two examples of the result of the advancement of 3d printing in automotive industry, which has paved a way to experience a notable transition that in the automotive industry.

How is 3d printing in automotive industry paving the way for new car designs?

This printing technology allows for rapid prototyping instead of relying on the traditional method of making a mold and manufacturing a part or hand-tooling a part. There are many advantages of using 3d printing instead of traditional manufacturing, not the least of which are lower costs and faster speeds. The method allows for on-demand tooling, and the parts are lighter and the fabrication process is much more environmentally friendly, requiring a fraction of the energy cost that is required in traditional manufacturing.

In the current landscape, cars are built on long assembly lines that consume staggering amounts of energy, which means even cars built to live an eco-friendly existence roll off the assembly line with a huge carbon footprint. Choosing 3D printing over traditional manufacturing in the automotive industry mainly includes two positive impacts: the exclusion of leftover waste and minimum generation of heat energy, which contributes to an eco-friendly method of processing.

Biggest contribution of 3d printing in Automotive Industry

3d printed Shelby Cobra

3d printed Shelby Cobra

Next-generation manufacturing takes on a 50-year-old icon as ORNL researchers transform this classic sports car into a 3d-printed laboratory on wheels. 3d printing enables the seamless integration of advanced technologies with design flexibility and modularity. It provides a platform for rapid development and evaluation. The 3d printed car incorporates “plug and plays” components such as new engine, battery, and fuel cell technologies; hybrid system designs; and power electronics and wireless charging systems, allowing researchers to easily and quickly test out innovative ideas in a driving laboratory.

Olli by local motors

Olli-3d printed car by local motors

Local Motors has created history by 3d printing its first Olli, self-driving shuttle in the company’s Knoxville micro-factory. Local Motors has long been innovating the future of vehicle 3d printing. And, Olli is believed to be the only 3d printed transit vehicle on Earth.

3d printing

How has this method of manufacturing proved as a game changer?

Is 3d printing technology affordable?

3d Printing Service Cost: Material Cost Savings

Improvement to incremental cost calculations

Assembly line and pricing strategy transformation

Advantages of 3d printing

The future

Benefits of 3d printing sand casting

Why use 3d printing sand casting?

Major advances in 3d printing

Defense

Housing and architecture

Consumer

Fashion

Aircraft designing

Metallurgy

Food industry

Oil and gas industry

Future growth of the industry

Added Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in 3d printing business

A Boost for Small Businesses

Should big companies be worried?

Advantages of 3d printing in orthodontics

Different techniques to use the combination of nanotechnology and 3d printing

The applications of the combination of nanotechnology and 3d printing

How does traditional manufacturing works?

How do we make it possible to make 3d printed products on-demand and directly in where the demand is?

What’s the reason behind 3d printing success?

Top 3d printing success stories

How is 3d printing in automotive industry paving the way for new car designs?

Biggest contribution of 3d printing in Automotive Industry

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