A final major benefit of 3D printing in manufacturing is its low cost of customization. Just as a 3D printer can be used in the development phase to create multiple iterations of a prototype quickly and cheaply, it also allows you to easily make changes to the digital file of a product. As a result, 3D printing allows companies to customize products for their customers at a minimum cost. Interestingly, this concept of mass customization with 3D printing has become popular in some of the world's largest companies, including razor giant Gillette and shoe company Nike.
The most cost-effective process for 3D metal printing is binder injection. This affordable metal 3D printing process can create complex parts with precision without the need for tools, reducing manufacturing times from months to days. We also recommend binder injection as an economical alternative to low-volume metal casting. Emptying the part in the design phase is an effective way to substantially reduce the costs of 3D printing.
Reducing raw material costs is another reason to consider 3D printing as a viable production alternative. While this may seem like a disadvantage at first glance, this low-volume production capacity is actually one of the benefits of 3D printing when it comes to smaller companies. The 3D printing process reduces the amount of post-processing work required, as castings are already more accurate. It's important to note that while 3D printing with metal results in durable parts, the cost tends to be much higher than using polymeric materials.
Composite materials such as carbon fiber, Kevlar and fiberglass fibers are at the forefront of innovation in 3D printing. When you need a higher-resolution material to prototype the final geometry, an Accura or Somos Mais Expensive resin for 3D stereolithography printing may be the best 3D printing material. The most important thing is to consider the overall value achieved with 3D printing, which is incredibly impressive for a growing list of applications and industries. FDM, for example, is often the most affordable 3D printing process available, until you start producing complex parts that need support structures to be printed correctly.
Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing can create complex, high-precision industrial parts more efficiently (and potentially more cost-effectively) than other industrial 3D printing processes. Advances in 3D printing have shown that technology is increasingly fast, processes are more automated and production volumes are increasing. Unlike subtractive manufacturing methods, which tend to produce more material waste, 3D printing saves resources, especially when using high-value materials. With the new VX2000, a 3D sand printer for metal casting, Hetitec produces finished castings in a matter of days.
Several factors determine the cost of 3D printing custom parts, including the materials needed, the production time per part, and the type of printer you want to use.
