How 3D Printing Is Improving Manufacturers' Bottom Lines
Table of Contents:
Lowering Production Costs with 3D Printing
With the advent of 3D Printing Machine solutions, businesses can now produce small-batch runs, prototypes, and custom parts without relying on costly CNC machines. It costs a lot to take a CNC machine down in order to retool and reconfigure it for use in producing a one-off unique product. Companies must buy the necessary equipment and pay an operator to complete and oversee the task, while also losing the opportunity to use the CNC machine to produce far larger, more lucrative works. Manufacturers must charge extremely high prices for the finished product when dealing with one-off items and small batches because they might never be able to offset the costs with a large order.
However, the economics of this issue shift when small-batch, one-off, and prototyping operations use a desktop 3D Printing Service. No specific part needs re-tooling for a 3D printer to generate. The printer’s internal software scans one of the numerous compatible design files and “slices” the design into many layers. The material extruder then layers the slices on the printer’s platform, one slice on top of the other. This approach offers a significantly more cost-effective and efficient solution for low volume compared to standard CNC systems.
A business reduced the cost of fixture clamps from $200 per piece to around $50 each by transferring the production of standard clamping fixtures and custom items to a desktop 3D printer.
Another instance of noteworthy cost reduction can be found in a case study concerning Volkswagen Autoeuropa’s 91% (€325,000/year) reduction in the manufacturing costs of specially designed assembly equipment. Before using an Ultimaker 3D printing system, Volkswagen Autoeuropa contracted out the production of these specialised tools. This process took 35 days and involved a lot of documentation and interactions with third-party suppliers and vendors. With around €10 per tool and a turnaround time of just 4 days, 3D printing now enables Volkswagen Autoeuropa to manage the complete tool design and manufacturing process internally. Not to mention the ongoing ergonomic improvements of the tools, which the incredibly low cost of design iterations makes feasible.
Speeding Up Turnaround Time with 3D Printing
As already indicated, desktop 3D printing solutions can also significantly cut turnaround times in manufacturing parts and components. The same reasoning that makes 3D printing a cost-effective method also explains why manufacturers find that using desktop systems improves turnaround times. Prior to dependable 3D printing systems, manufacturers had to use the same pricey CNC mill to produce every element. The CNC mill takes time in addition to being costly. Setting up new tool paths in CAM applications and taking a CNC machine offline consume valuable time. Additionally, re-configuring a CNC machine before it finishes all of the jobs in its queue isn’t cost-effective. Smaller jobs naturally have to wait in line to be scheduled for completion.
Now, desktop 3D printing devices complete these jobs in just days. They eliminate queue waiting while the mill finishes high-volume operations and remove the need for setup time from CNC operators. Smaller businesses that might not run their own mills benefit from this increased efficiency. Tucci Hotrods, for instance, reduced the time needed for modelling and machining unique auto parts from three to four weeks to less than twenty-four hours. One significant advantage of using 3D printing is the shorter turnaround time, but it’s also important to consider the additional advantages of precise delivery estimates and the assurance that deadlines can be met. Timelines for one-off and small-batch manufacturing orders are now predictable for both manufacturers and end users.
Staying Competitive in a Changing Industry with 3D Printing
The manufacturing sector is undergoing change. Artificial intelligence, automated manufacturing processes, and the development of new materials mean that the corporate landscape will continue to change for some time to come. Technologies like additive manufacturing and 3D printing will be crucial to the industry’s transformation. One of the most crucial traits a business needs to have in order to endure over the long haul is the capacity to stay competitive in this environment. A manufacturer can gain the necessary competitive edge by making strategic use of state-of-the-art desktop 3D printing equipment. Systems for 3D printing enable a business to remain flexible. They make it less expensive to innovate and investigate new business opportunities. To develop new products and reach new markets, a factory would often have to spend a lot of time and money on new equipment, supplies, and tools. That paradigm is just no longer viable. With the ability to produce prototypes and proof-of-concept models in a flash, 3D printing technologies now enable businesses to purchase a single piece of equipment (the 3D printer) and use it to effectively develop and test new product concepts and establish new business. Modern desktop systems give firms the flexibility and capability to quickly pivot, which is the key to success now and in the future.
If you want to expand your company’s manufacturing capacity, cut expenses, speed up turnaround, or investigate new business prospects, get in touch with Scale Model 3D—a trusted provider of 3D Printing Service Malaysia. As specialists in all things 3D printing, we would be delighted to assist you in locating the ideal Malaysia 3D Printing Service for your sector.