3D Printing’s Role in Prototyping and Low-Volume Production
Advancements in 3D printing as a production solution are also enabling additive manufacturing for low volume production. With tightly integrated solutions including 3D printing machines, software, and materials, additive manufacturing is enabling more effective and efficient prototypes through production workflow as well as faster time to market.
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3 Low Volume Manufacturing Methods
Companies use a low-volume approach to test products in the market before high volume production or if the demand is small. Low volume options include injection molding, CNC milling, and…
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Four Applications of Rapid Prototyping with 3D Printing
3D printing has many rapid prototyping applications, allowing companies to accomplish more in less time without sacrificing product quality. Today’s 3D printing systems require no tooling and support a broad range of materials, so designers can enable rapid functional prototyping and make faster transitions to full-scale manufacturing.
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SLA vs. DLP 3D Printing
Today, the 3D printing field has advanced in accuracy, product complexity, and the number of available processes. Companies can scale the production of complex products to high volume using two processes: stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP).
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FDM vs. DLP 3D Printing
Two common 3D printing processes are fused deposition modeling (FDM) and digital light processing (DLP). Each of these 3D printing processes is best suited to specific product applications. Anyone interested in using 3D printing for their next product should understand the differences between FDM vs. DLP 3D printing. DLP processes and systems enable the manufacturing of products like dental appliances, medical devices, and footwear. With greater speed, better surface finishing, and isotropic material properties DLP may be a better choice for companies looking to decrease product development time, de-risk manufacturing operations, and create unique business models.
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Guide to the Ideal Additive Manufacturing Process
Additive manufacturing is often associated with low-volume production or prototyping. Some 3D printers are developed for the sole purpose of rapid prototyping. Still, innovations in 3D printing technology have made high-volume production both feasible and often the best solution for accelerating a new product to market. 3D printing has no tooling costs and very few design limitations. Companies can implement 3D printing solutions from innovation through production, eliminating certain drawbacks associated with traditional manufacturing.
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What is 3D Printing, Additive Manufacturing, and Rapid Prototyping?
Dentists, aerospace engineers, footwear manufacturers, and other industries utilize 3D solutions to streamline production processes, expand design possibilities, create better-performing products, and enable a more resilient supply chain.
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How 3D Printing Is Improving the Footwear Manufacturing Process
Traditional footwear manufacturing is a time-consuming process that often limits designs. With high tooling costs and production limitations, initial designs, tooling, and prototyping can take months to complete and require significant investments. The final product design must fit the production method, and processes, like injection molding, can constrain the design. Products need to be developed so that tools can be built for mass production. Designers who work with injection molding must often reconfigure their product layouts to meet production criteria after the prototyping stage.
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Benefits of Additive Manufacturing for High Volume vs. Low Volume Manufacturing
There are many considerations in choosing high volume vs. low volume manufacturing. Additive manufacturing offers a viable option for any volume. It also enables manufacturers to implement a more agile business model with less risk. Here’s how additive manufacturing is reducing the gap between high volume vs. low volume manufacturing.
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