Additive manufacturing is a common industrial manufacturing technique these days. Using digital designs, it creates 3D objects one layer at a time. It is also referred to as “3D printing”. Traditional manufacturing methods typically involved subtraction as they were made by cutting down materials and bringing shapes to objects. This also led to the wastage of the original material.
The main benefit of using the 3D printing technique is that it only adds material to specific parts and areas where it is required. This helps to cut down waste to a minimum. Materials like plastic, metals, or composites are used in additive manufacturing projects. This manufacturing technique ensures a high level of accuracy and uniformity in production.
Applications of 3D printing
3D printing technology is used for manufacturing a variety of products, such as consumer goods like eyewear, furniture, and footwear, industrial products like prototypes, tools, and functional parts, prosthetics, dental products, maquettes and architectural scale models, movie props, replicating ancient artifacts, reconstructing evidence and related components in forensic pathology and for reconstructing fossils. That’s not all.
The use of 3D printing has revolutionized traditional means. As a result, 3D printing has gained prominence over time. Today, it is also used in the automotive and aerospace industry for designing complex and lightweight parts that require a high level of precision.
Unique advantages of using the additive manufacturing technique
Additive manufacturing offers a range of advantages that production houses cannot get with traditional manufacturing. Hence, this production method is chosen for specific projects. Even though it requires a hefty investment. Here are the key advantages of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing techniques.
Freedom to design all kinds of products
Additive manufacturing offers a high level of process flexibility, enabling users to push the limits while designing different types of products. Manufacturers are not limited by what is available through traditional manufacturing processes. 3D printing enables the creation of complex geometric shapes and structures that are otherwise difficult or impossible to achieve.
It facilitates better in-house production practices
Typically, businesses have little control over how the product will turn out when they choose to hire outsourcing companies to make something for them, They deal with longer timelines, higher cost margins, and poor transparency.
Sometimes, this can lead to quality issues or disagreement among various departments on the best ways to make the final product. This is something that companies can avoid by working with additive manufacturing technology. It also helps designers to innovate with efficiency and keep their production practices a secret.
It ensures quicker production times
The turnaround time for producing a finished product is remarkably quicker than that of traditional manufacturing processes. 3D printing also guarantees high exactness and precision at every step of the way and reduces material waste.
Companies can build a culture of innovation and create state-of-the-art products by investing in additive manufacturing techniques. They can also bring greater significance to their end users in this way.