3D printing
What 3D printing can offer to the world
3D printing brought technological revolution to the world and managed to reshape it. The method of 3D printing has greatly affected the production world, with the following effects:
- In energy use
- In waste reduction
- In product customization and availability
- In medicine
- In art
- In manufacturing
- In science
The four reasons that intrigued us by 3D printing.
There are at least four reasons that have led us to focus on 3D printing. These reasons are:
- The development of 3D printing has affected a wide range of production processes and has broaden the way for optimizing and increasing productivity, resulting in economic growth. 3D printing is the “new Industrial Revolution”.
- 3D printing allows the efficient use of materials. Through additive manufacturing, objects are made, with the timeless addition of overlapping layers of material (layers). This results in the minimization of surplus material after production.
- 3D printers work with lighter materials compared to traditional manufacturing methods. This has as an effect the increase of their effectiveness. To understand the above, it is enough to think about the 3D printing of an aircraft component, which can be 65% lighter than conventional ones and is not inferior to any of them. This contributes to a lower weight of the aircraft, which reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
- 3D printing is a promising method in various fields that are still in the early stages of development.
Global market of additive manufacturing
3D printing is a method of additive manufacturing, in the global market of additive manufacturing not even one country in SE Europe is in the top 20 markets as shown in the chart below.
Applications of 3D Printing: The uses of 3D printing include:
- Product Development
- Industrial Prototypes
- End-Use Components
- Architecture
- Medical Applications
The five primary applications of 3D printing
The five primary applications of 3D printing result in improved productivity and reduced lead times.
Product Development
Through the method of additive manufacturing, the possibility to economically create new products in a short time frame is provided. Additionally, iterations, corrections, and design adjustments can be tested without incurring extra costs. Creating a product only requires a few hours.
Benefits of the method:
- Possibility of 3D printing a range of different ideas and selecting the best one during the early design stages.
- Dimension control: 3D printing a basic/prototype model makes it easy to adjust the size and overall proportions.
- Functionality testing: With 3D printing, the prototype model can be tested under real conditions.
- Appearance assessment: The visual appearance can be easily evaluated by stakeholders, designers, etc., based on the prototype model.
Industrial Aids
3D printing enables the production of components and other tools in a short time frame. This results in faster machine setups and a smoother production process.
Benefits of the method:
- Improved quality assurance: The quality of manufacturing components is precisely controlled with accurate measurements.
- On-demand tooling: 3D printing provides tools with specific specifications, readily available.
- Customized molds and designs: 3D printing allows for the creation of low-functionality injection molds.
End-Use Components
3D printing means that early designs can be evaluated, complex ideas can be communicated, and architectural concepts can be visualized effectively. The construction time of models is significantly reduced, even for intricate geometries.
Benefits of the method:
- Easy production of models, which can be quickly printed to determine the construction of the project in the initial stages.
- Mass studies in stages, starting from the building's framework and then adding articulating 3D-printed parts to the model.
- 3D printed designs to scale result in impressive presentations.
- The ability to create a comprehensive design with precise details.
Architecture
3D printing means that early designs can be evaluated, complex ideas can be communicated, and architectural concepts can be visualized effectively. The construction time of models is significantly reduced, even for intricate geometries.
Benefits of the method:
- Easy production of models, which can be quickly printed to determine the construction of the project in the initial stages.
- Mass studies in stages, starting from the building's framework and then adding articulating 3D-printed parts to the model.
- 3D printed designs to scale result in impressive presentations.
- The ability to create a comprehensive design with precise details.
Medical Applications
3D printing in medicine provides the capability for specialists to identify exact needs before performing surgical procedures. This results in shorter surgery times, therefore reducing the time under anesthesia and associated operation costs.
Benefits of the method:
- Improved surgical planning, as surgeons can better prepare before the intervention.
- Better communication with the patient and understanding of their condition. With the 3D model, better explanations can be given, and the patient can see and touch it.
- Medical instruments can be easily and quickly 3D printed.
- Effective clinical education, where 3D printed models help future doctors better understand anatomy and surgical procedures.
- 3D printing has gained ground in the medical/pharmaceutical field based on its two main advantages: a. The ease of manufacturing intricate structures. b. The ability to produce drugs on demand, providing flexibility in selecting the quantity of the active substance tailored to each patient's needs. The main mechanism enabling this is by loading the active substance into the printing material.