Phoenix 3D Printing turns CAD designs into physical prototypes and end-use parts, significantly reducing design and production time. This is known as rapid manufacturing and it enables businesses to print components on demand, eliminating the need for warehouses of inventory and cutting logistic costs.
Some printers use a laser to cure liquid resin into solid plastic, while others fuse small particles of polymer powder into layers to build parts. The types of materials available are vast.
- Faster Production
3D printing is a manufacturing process that creates physical objects from digital designs, using layers of liquid or powdered material to form the object. Unlike traditional fabrication methods, which subtract materials from a shape (think drilling, cutting, and welding), 3D printing adds material to the surface until it has the desired form. The process is aided by computer-aided design software that translates the three-dimensional computer model into two-dimensional “slices” and instructions for the printer, which uses an array of different techniques like direct energy deposition, material jetting, sheet lamination, spraying, and powder bed fusion to build the object from raw materials such as thermoplastics, newer polymers, ceramics, metals, resins, and even wood residue biomass.
The ability to print models and prototypes faster is changing the way industries work. It allows designers to quickly turn ideas into 3D models or prototypes, then implement rapid changes in design. It also reduces the lead time from when a product is conceived until it’s on store shelves, improving inventory management and speeding up the process of getting products to market.
In addition to its speed, 3D printing offers a number of other advantages over traditional fabrication processes. It’s cheaper than creating molds and casts from solid material, as well as more efficient, since it requires less raw material to produce the same object. Additionally, 3D printing isn’t dependent on mass production to recoup upfront costs or pay for labor to assemble the finished product.
As the technology evolves, the types of materials that can be printed are growing as well. While traditional document or photo printers can only print in two dimensions, modern printers offer a plethora of color options and are capable of building objects from many different materials. These versatile devices can be found on shop floors, at home in rec rooms and garages, and even in school labs.
3D printing is a fast way to make models and prototypes, but it can also be used to produce functional parts and components, including tooling and jigs, for applications such as CNC milling and injection molding. In these applications, the higher print speeds of modern 3D printers pay for themselves in shortened production lead times and reduced costs in a short amount of time.
- Lower Costs
In addition to reducing the time it takes to produce parts, 3D printing lowers production costs through material savings. While there are a wide variety of printing materials available, thermoplastics like ABS and PLA are typically the least expensive options. The use of these materials, combined with the fact that jigs and fixtures are not required, allows companies to streamline their processes and reduce overall production costs.
Other advanced materials are also becoming available, with applications ranging from functional electronics and circuitry to self-healing polymers. While these advanced materials may be more costly than the standard thermoplastics, they offer a number of planned and unexpected benefits that can help offset their cost.
Another major cost saving benefit of 3D printing is the elimination of waste associated with traditional manufacturing methods. This is because the design can be built layer-by-layer, allowing only the amount of material needed to make a particular part or product to be used, rather than wasting excess raw materials. This can save companies a significant amount of money on materials and allow them to market themselves as more environmentally conscious.
3D printing can also lower assembly costs by eliminating the need for jigs and fixtures. It also allows engineers and designers to create complex geometries that are impossible to achieve using subtractive or injection molded techniques, such as internal passages for wiring or cooling. Those features can lower overall product weight, which also leads to cost savings in the long run.
Lastly, the ability to print in multiple colors and with varying textures can add aesthetic value to products and designs. This helps them stand out from the competition, and can increase consumer satisfaction. In addition, it can be used to create unique, custom packaging and branding that can enhance brand awareness.
Of course, there are some additional costs associated with 3D printing such as the initial investment in a printer and the cost of electricity to run it. The cost of the printer can vary depending on the model, power requirements and length of time it is used. However, even if the printer is only used for prototyping or creating visual models, the initial investment can be offset by the savings on the cost of materials and energy over time.
- More Durable
3D printing allows for the rapid production of complex and intricate structures that would be impossible or at least extremely time-consuming to make using traditional methods. As the technology progresses, 3D printed parts can even compete with the strength of traditionally manufactured products in some cases. This is especially true when advanced design techniques, such as generative design, are employed. The results of these designs often create structures that are lighter, more optimized, and stronger than their traditionally manufactured counterparts.
In order to achieve durable, high-quality prints, it is essential that the correct printer settings and filament are used. For example, a 3D print that lacks sufficient infill density can be easily broken or cracked. Infill density refers to the pattern in which plastic is added throughout the object, and there are a variety of ways this can be achieved. The most common infill patterns include honeycomb and grid patterns that add a large number of small supports to the overall print, increasing its durability.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the quality of a print is not necessarily tied to its resolution. While a higher resolution generally produces a more accurate and finer print, there are many other factors that play into the durability of a 3D print. These factors include the type of filament and printing material used, the infill density, and the complexity of the print’s design.
One of the most popular applications for 3D printing is creating jewelry. 3D printing allows jewelers to produce intricate designs that can be more elaborate and detailed than previous manufacturing methods, such as CNC machining, lost-wax casting, or hand carving. It also gives them the freedom to experiment with different shapes, textures, and finishes that were previously limited by their manufacturing tools.
Regardless of the industry, 3D printing has revolutionized the way businesses work. With the right printer, software, and materials, you can create strong and reliable parts with ease, reducing costs and operating time while improving productivity. If you’re looking for a solution that will allow your business to operate with greater agility and precision on the factory floor, Markforged offers industrial 3D printers designed specifically for manufacturing.
- Customizable
Unlike traditional manufacturing technologies that require complex tooling and molds to produce an object, 3D printing is one of the most agile production technologies. The technology allows manufacturers to make parts on demand, which drastically cuts production times and eliminates the need for inventories.
Additionally, the process is much more flexible than injection molding, allowing engineers to create new complex design iterations quickly and efficiently. This shortened development cycles can significantly shorten product research and development timelines, leading to faster time to market for businesses that utilize the technology.
The flexibility of 3D printing also offers companies greater intellectual property protection, as they can print in-house, reducing the risk of data leaks and theft. Additionally, by producing the products themselves, they can gain tighter control over their supply chains and improve operational efficiency.
To begin the printing process, a virtual design of the desired object is made, which works like a blueprint for the printer to follow. This is usually done using a computer-aided design (CAD) program. Once the design is finished, it is prepared for printing by breaking it down into thousands of thin layers. This process is called slicing and is an important step in the creation of the final printed object. Various techniques for slicing are used depending on the printer and the type of material being printed, but all of them are designed to ensure that the wall thickness of the object is consistent throughout the entire structure.
Once the layer-by-layer printing process has been completed, the object is cooled and cleaned off of any excess material to prepare it for finishing. This can include sanding, painting, and assembly of multiple parts, depending on the design. This is an important step, as it will allow the part to have a smooth and uniform surface and can dramatically improve its appearance and functionality.
With the wide variety of materials available for use with 3D printing, there is a lot of room for customization. From sturdy metals and high-performance polymers to engineering-grade thermoplastics and heavy-duty composites, manufacturers can choose the best materials to suit their needs. By combining the right materials with the proper software, they can design parts that meet performance requirements while optimizing material usage and lowering costs.