quality concerns by working with an
experienced partner, who provides
training and support on best
practice. Those looking to invest
in AM parts produced elsewhere
should be mindful of their supplier’s
approach to quality, to ensure that
what they are purchasing meets
specifications.
THE PERFECT MATERIAL
Polymers, ceramics and metals
can all be 3D printed, although
plastic 3D printing remains the most
popular. While it is feasible to print
many materials, some are more
suited to the process than others
— choosing the wrong material
will also impact quality. If you are
manufacturing a product from a
material unsuited to AM, you may
have to rethink your options, either
to change the material or opt for a
subtractive process.
Ultimately, it won’t usually
make good economic sense to
switch to AM from conventional
manufacturing, unless AM
offers significant benefits to the
application, for example by making it
lightweight. However, if your design
is extremely complex and will require
expensive custom tooling, AM may
be a better option.
Additive manufacturing is a fantastic
technology that has brought
great design freedom to many
applications. However, it is not a one
size fits all approach. Companies
should think carefully about whether
a component really needs to be
produced by AM, considering the
cost, productivity and practicality of
incorporating AM into their process.
In many situations, producing and
sourcing parts the old-fashioned
way — ordering them from a reliable
supplier — is the best approach.
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