5 Important Principles of 3D Printing

Here are the five principles of 3D printing that may help individuals and businesses take full advantage of 3D printing technologies.

Principle one: Reduction of costs associated with 3D printing

In traditional manufacturing, the more complicated an object’s shape is, the more it costs to make. To produce an object of equal complexity, 3D printing can remove the overhead costs associated with retraining human machinists or retooling factory machines.

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Principle two: No assembly is required

3D printing can also print objects with its interlocked parts in one go. Mass manufacturing is built on the backbone of the assembly line. In modern factories, machines make identical objects that are later assembled by robots or human workers, sometimes continents away. The more parts a product contains, the longer it takes to assemble and the more expensive it becomes to make. By making objects in layers, a 3D printer could print a door with its attached interlocking hinges at the same time, with no assembly required. Supply chains will be shortened, while saving money on labor and transportation costs at the same time.

Principle three: Ability to print on-demand

A 3D printer can print on-demand when an object is required. The capacity for on-the-spot manufacturing reduces the need for companies to stockpile physical inventory. New types of business services become possible as 3D printers enable businesses to make specialty or customized objects on-demand in response to customers’ orders. This could also minimize the costs of long-distance shipping since the object required can be printed as long as a 3D printer is present.

Principle four: Portable manufacturing

Since 3D printers are generally lighter in weight and smaller in scale compared to traditional machines, users can freely move them around anywhere to print 3D objects.

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Principle five: Precise physical replication

A digital music file can be copied endlessly without losing its audio quality. In the future, 3D printing will extend this digital precision to the world of physical objects. Scanning technology and 3D printing will work together to introduce high-resolution shape shifting between the physical and digital worlds. We will scan, edit, and duplicate physical objects to create exact replicas or even improve upon the originals.

These principles are expected to help individuals and businesses with 3D printing technologies. Some of these principles already hold true today. 3D printing sets the stage for a cascade of evolving innovations.

Source: 3DPrint.com

Main cover image via ferra.ru