We all are probably familiar with what 3D printing is, by now. Growing in popularity at a very fast rate, 3D printing is commonly used across the globe in multiple industries and has affected the global supply chains due to its rapid increase in popularity.
Like every other technology, while having numerous advantages, there are certain drawbacks of 3D printing as well. In this blog, we’ll have a look at some of the pros and cons of 3D printing.
Pros
1. Rapid Rate of Production
Prototyping of a product can be fast-tracked using 3D printing. 3D printing can make parts in as little as an hour, depending on the size. 3D printing also costs less than conventional methods, if you outsource the project.
2. Flexibility
Conventional methods don’t have much variety in term s of being designs and are unable to produce complicated or complex designs. 3D printing isn’t limited and can be used for making designs that conventional methods can’t. Also, 3D printing allows more modifications post-production.
3. Light and Strong Parts
Plastic is the most often used 3D printing medium, while certain metals can be used as well. Plastics, on the other hand, have the advantage of being lightweight than their metal counterparts. This is especially significant in industries like automotive and aircraft, where light-weighting is a concern and higher fuel efficiency may be achieved.
4. Cost-Effective
3D printing is a one step process, which is why it has the potential to save time compared to traditional manufacturing procedures, which comprised of several step by step processes, resulting in a lot of time wastage.
3D printers do not require any supervision as well, so the workers don’t have to be their all the time. 3D printers also use exactly how much material is required, thus reducing costs of material as there is practically no wastage, compared to traditional methods where a lot of material is wasted due to cutting, refining etc.
Cons
1. Limited Materials
Although 3D printing enables manufacturing of products with several polymers of plastic and metals, the raw materials available are still limited. Not all polymers of plastic or metals can be used for 3D printing. Some of them can’t be recycled, which is why they are discouraged.
2. Size Restrictions
In most 3D printers, the chamber in which the production takes place is usually small. This means that bigger objects need to be produced in parts, not as a whole. This can lead to more time as well as costs, since multiple parts need to be printed, and then joined together manually.
3. Bulk Production
Conventional methods of production had a fixed pattern. When production increased, the cost decreased. This is not the case with 3D printing though. The cost of production remains same be it producing one unit, or mass production of that unit.
These are some of the pros and cons that 3D printing has. If you’re looking to get 3D printing services in Grass Valley, Connekt LLC is the perfect company for you. We provide high-quality 3D printing and rapid prototyping services. for more information, contact us now.
