Advantages & Disadvantages of Using 3D Printing
3D printing is becoming more and more popular amongst manufacturers for a variety of reasons. It can offer some fantastic benefits, which is why companies opt for 3D printing. However, as with any technology, 3D printing can also have disadvantages, which must be considered. Discover some advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing to help you decide if 3D printing is the right option for your business.
Advantages of 3D printing
3D printing has many advantages, which is why many manufacturers are using 3D printing!
It provides a flexible design.
When using 3D printing, you can design and print more complex, flexible designs than the traditional manufacturing processes. The classic methods manufacturers use have design restrictions that 3D printing doesn’t have. This means you can create more unique designs and have endless possibilities. You can try any design, anything in your imagination, which can lead to finding something new that works better!
Prints on demand
Unlike traditional manufacturing processes, 3D printing only needs a little space to stock inventory. This means that you can print on demand as it saves space and costs because you don’t need to print in bulk anymore unless required!
Every 3D design file will be stored in a virtual library as they are printed using a 3D model. These files will be CAD or STL, so they can be easily located and printed whenever needed! Plus, you can edit designs if required by editing individual files. You will no longer need to invest in tools to make amendments or edits.
Gives strong & lightweight parts
The materials used with 3D printing can create robust and lightweight parts compared to traditional methods. Plastic is the primary material in 3D printing, but some metals can also be used. Plastics can provide lighter parts as the material is very light. This can be important for industries like automotive and aerospace because they can face issues if parts need to be more lightweight.
3D printing parts can also be created from tailored materials so you can provide specific properties to your product parts. You could ensure they are heat-resistant, have a higher strength, or are water-repellent and even waterproof.
Can do micro-printing for tiny parts
Another excellent advantage to 3D printing is that you can print tiny, intricate parts that may be needed. This can be done through a micro 3D printer or a service that provides this instead. Using a Micro 3D Printing Service for Electronics or other small parts can be an ideal choice if your manufacturing business doesn’t only sometimes need to print small parts. It will be more cost-effective than getting a micro printer that is rarely used!
Micro-printing is excellent for many industries as parts can be minuscule and tricky using 3D printing. These can make tiny parts easier as they are programmed to deal with them and can create almost any delicate part.
Quick prototyping, design & production stages
Choosing 3D printing allows you to unlock quick prototyping, design and production stages, making your business run smoothly, efficiently and quickly. 3D printing machines can manufacture parts within hours, which helps speed up the prototyping process. Compared to traditional methods, 3D printing is inexpensive and quicker at creating parts.
Depending on the part’s design and complexity, they are also quicker at the design and production. This is because 3D printers can print faster than moulding or machined parts within a few hours. Designing the parts can be cut down effectively as users can whip up the design and simply save them as STL or CAD files, ready to access whenever needed.
It’sIt’s cost-effective
Using 3D printing saves time and therefore reduces costs of the length different machines run for. They can also be set up and left to do the job, so there is no need for operators to be present the whole time, unlike traditional machines. This means you can also save costs on wages as you can have less staff or put those wages to use elsewhere where you need operators the most.
3D printing can also reduce costs on materials as it will only need to use the amount of material required for the part, meaning there’s little to no wastage of materials!
More environmentally friendly
3D printers reduce the amount of material wastage, which makes them more environmentally friendly than traditional processes. These environmentally friendly benefits are extended too when you consider factors that go into the conventional methods, such as improving fuel efficiency using lightweight 3D printed parts.
Minimises waste
3D printing minimises waste compared to traditional machines. This is because 3D printers will only use what they need to produce the parts, meaning you won’t excessively use a material or waste materials ever again. 3D printing saves on resources and reduces the cost of materials being used!
Disadvantages of 3D printing
With many technologies, there can also be a few disadvantages of 3D printing that can cause an issue sometimes and need to be considered if it works for your business before moving forward with 3D printing.
Limited materials available
Although 3D printing can create items in a selection of plastics and metals, the available selection of raw materials is quite limited. This is because some metals and plastics can’t be temperature-controlled enough to allow 3D printing to occur. Plus, many of these materials can’t be recycled either, and very few are food-safe, too, meaning if your business focuses on parts for food, you may need to stick to more traditional processes.
Reduces manufacturing jobs
3D printing can lead to a reduction in manufacturing jobs since most of the production is automated. Many companies and countries rely on human labour jobs to keep their economies running. This technology could put these jobs at risk, especially for third-world countries, as you may find no need for production abroad.
It can be inaccurate with the design.
Depending on the type of machine or process used, 3D printing can provide inaccuracies in the design of parts. Some printers have lower tolerances, so their final parts may differ from the original design. These inaccuracies can be fixed in the post-processing stage, but you will need to think carefully about this as it will increase the time spent and cost of production.
Can have copyright issues
Due to the popularity of 3D printing, there are now more possibilities for creating counterfeit products. 3D printing is highly accessible now, so creating fake products can happen often, and it can be challenging to tell the difference between real and fake. This brings copyright issues and problems with quality control, too.
The build size is restricted.
Currently, many 3D printers have only small print chambers to restrict the build size of your parts. If you need more significant parts, this must be done in smaller parts and put together after production. This can prolong the production process, which, in turn, heightens costs.
It is ideal to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using 3D printing before proceeding with this technology. It would help if you were sure that 3D printing suits your business and needs to ensure it benefits your processes and works efficiently.
