What is industrial 3D printing for?
Industrial 3D printing is used for manufacturing prototypes, tools, and series parts. It uses materials that, depending on the industrial application in question, must meet special mechanical requirements such as flexibility, rigidity, and wear resistance.
3D printing has proven very economical in industry because models and small series can be created, tested, and adjusted for series production much quicker than they could with usual methods. Unlike prototypes that map only the geometries of the planned component, industrially manufactured 3D-printed models allow all mechanical properties to be tested on the machine.
3D printing services are frequently used for industrial prototype manufacture, since procuring an industrial 3D printer is not cost-effective unless the company in question possesses the necessary expertise and needs to use the printer regularly to manufacture models and series. 3D printing service providers usually have not only the necessary expertise, but also several 3D printers, allowing them to select the method best suited to the application in question. Depending on method, it is also much more cost-effective to engage an external service provider because such methods as laser sintering involve the regular manufacture of large batches of parts for various customers, greatly lowering production costs for individual parts and thus for individual customers.
In addition to manufacturing prototypes and small series, industry is relying more and more on 3D printing for tool manufacture for such procedures as injection moulding. Plastic, ceramic, or metal – any mould for large-series production can be additively manufactured. Unlike conventional tool manufacture, additive manufacturing allows moulds to be created quickly and simply based on a CAD file and added directly to the order. If modifications are necessary, they can be made with a few clicks, so manufacturing a new tool is much quicker and costs less than conventional methods allow.
3D printers are being purchased more frequently by private individuals so that they can print objects for private use and explore the capabilities of 3D printing. However, their options are limited by the costs, which remain very high, and the quality of processable materials, which is generally low. There are industrial 3D printers for all types of additive methods; they can process a wide range of materials and are better suited to the requirements of industry.