Though 3D printing dates back to the 1980s, it has become the mainstream manufacturing technology across most industries. The technology has undergone substantial innovations embracing increased sophistication in product designing and manufacturing. From rapid prototyping to end-use products, the significant role of 3D printing is witnessed for diverse applications. Plastics, metals, and ceramics- you can use a wide array of raw materials for 3D printing, and the results are mind-blowing every time!
For over three decades, 3D printing services have pushed all the boundaries of design limitations and have become the heart and soul of the additive manufacturing industry. Automotive, aerospace, defence, medicine, electronics, food industry, architectural models, education, consumer products, and robotics- is there any other industry we missed? Well, to deduce, 3D printing has spread its wings to every industrial sector we could name.
Apart from faster lead time and versatile material selection, what are the other factors making 3D printing so popular? How did it impact product design? We will discuss it closely in this post. You will learn how 3D printing has transformed industrial design in various forms. Let’s begin.
The Role of 3D Printing in Industrial Designing
The incorporation of modern technologies in 3D printing has emerged in a new era in the manufacturing industry. Where conventional production techniques were limited to product designs, 3D printing has efficiently made it possible. Your imagination can now become a reality!
So, what changes took place in industrial design?
- Flexibility- As you know, in 3D printing technology, parts and prototypes are obtained layer-by-layer. It means that very fine layers of the raw material fuse to form the complete object. As a result, it allows the fabrication of complex geometries without additional tooling. This ability has unveiled endless possibilities, encouraging designers and engineers to think and create beyond expectations! Thus, product designing is no longer restricted to conventional ideas.
- Accuracy- In the traditional manufacturing procedures, the disparity between the actual design and the finished product was enormous. It means that the concept never resembled reality! The primary reason behind this is the implementation of incompetent manufacturing tools and equipment that failed to accomplish intricate geometries. So, often, production became challenging. However, 3D printing has substantially changed the scenario. It overcame the challenges of design accuracy. Being a highly advanced and sophisticated manufacturing technique, 3D printing can print any design seamlessly. The end product is a replica of the concept design.
- Finish- Through 3D printing, it is possible to deliver products with flawless surface finish. Most of the time, you do not require post-processing until there is a specific requirement. The parts and products obtained are more refined, possessing exquisite aesthetics and functional properties. Additionally, the 3D-printed parts have uniform material consistency, making them suitable for end use.
- Customization- Product personalization is a common practice among 3D printing companies. In the era of Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing is only a command away! What we mean is that it has becTTome much easier to create on-demand personalized products at any time. Whether you need an architectural model or simply draft a new design with a new raw material, there are endless customization possibilities.
- Improvisations- A typical advantage of the 3D printing technology is that it enables quick and effortless adjustments in product designs. It means that you can make changes to a design at any time. Thus, the chances of flaws can be avoided in the early stages of production. Unlike the conventional techniques where improvising a design was toilsome because you have to recreate the design and initiate the production process from the beginning. Nonetheless, the use of CAD files in 3D printing has enabled designers to make quick modifications so that you can avoid errors and achieve consistent production.
- Rapid Prototyping- If you want to create and test a new design to ensure its quality and efficiency as a final product, let’s take you to rapid prototyping through 3D printing. Creating small or large-scale prototypes for a product is no longer time-consuming and an inconvenience. You can swiftly produce prototypes that precisely define the final product. The technology is so advanced that today you have an online 3D printing service where you can simply upload your design and request to print!
- Safety- Lastly, let’s not forget that conventional manufacturing came with a lot of hard tooling that involved significant risks. With more laborers working with hand tools, there were higher chances of injuries apart from product flaws. But, as 3D printing is an entirely automated process, there is no need for additional tooling. It has considerably increased labor and product safety. This encourages boosted scalability.
Conclusion
It is no surprise that 3D printing is the new-age manufacturing technology that has improved the standards of product quality and revolutionized industrial design to a significant extent. The innovations do not stop here! We are constantly upgrading the tools and techniques to ensure conceptualization deserves its worth!