In order to stay in the competition, small startups and huge businesses alike must keep in step with the latest and highly efficient technology. One of the fastest growing trends today is the use of 3D printers, also known as additive manufacturing.
Basically, 3D printing is the process of transforming a digital 3D file to a physical object through the use of a printing machine and material called filament. In contrast, subtractive manufacturing is the removal of materials from a solid block to produce an object of desired shape and size. Poly-lactic acid is the most common type of filament while there are also other materials such as nylon, polycarbonate, HIPS (high impact polystyrene), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), and more. Check out your trusted 3D printing filaments store to know more about the best material for your 3D printer.
There are also different methods by which 3D printers are able to create objects. The most widely used of which is FDM or fused deposition modelling. In this process, a spool of filament is pushed out of a nozzle as it moves across precalculated coordinates to reproduce the digital 3D model. Other types include stereolithography, digital light processing, electron beam melting, selective laser melting, binder jetting, selective laser sintering, and laminated object manufacturing.
Now that you know the basic concepts of 3D printing, check out how it can help you in you in making your business grow and stand out among your competitors.
Product Customization
There are times that you might need a specific electronic or machine part that is either difficult to find the market or expensive to acquire from the local manufacturers. This is where 3D printers can help you. These machines are highly capable of mass producing customized products without the extra production and shipping costs where other manufacturers take profit from.
Prototype Testing
Another popular use of 3D printers is in product development and prototype testing. With 3D printers, you can create a new prototype product and conduct as many trials as you need. This can help you improve your products with maximum efficiency regardless of its size, shape, and function.
Equipment and Manpower Reduction
The best thing about a 3D printer is that it is versatile and it is capable of producing different types of objects without having the need to set up multiple machines just like in traditional manufacturing facilities. All you need to do is to load the digital model and the 3D printer will do the rest. This can help you save industrial space as well as manpower to operate and maintain several machines.
Cost and Time Savings
With all of the aforementioned benefits of 3D printers in businesses, one thing is clear: 3D printers can help you save a lot of time and money without reducing the quality of your products. The amount that you can save on space rentals, manpower, and equipment, gives you the opportunity to purchase more 3D printers to speed up production and address other needs of your business.
With the increasing reliability and already reducing market price of 3D printers, buying one for your business has never been as cost and time efficient as it is before. Boost efficiency for your business today and start a long-term and rewarding investment for the future.
