Question:
Discuss about the Additive Manufacturing for Introduction to Informatics.
The process of creating three-dimensional objects is known as 3D printing or additive manufacturing. In this process, computer control system uses a layer of material to form an object; the material can be plastic, concrete, metal or other. The additive manufacturing is a new growing sector; many corporations are making more than prototypes through this mechanism, as before. The 3D printing has revolutionised various industries through design and industrialisation, such as energy, health, machinery, aerospace and consumer products. This report will focus on analysing the role of 3D printing in the manufacturing of products and various other situations. Further, the report will evaluate the future of additive production and its impact on traditional manufacturing.
Traditionally, the manufacturing has revolutionised the world through an industrial revolution which enabled the world today. The word manufacturing derives from the French word which means made by hand. According to Bijker et al. (2012), modern technology has completely changed the process of manufacturing such as forming, molding, and companies using sophisticated machinery performs casting functions. These advanced techniques are “subtractive” method of manufacturing, in which the products are manufactured through subtracting some material from a workpiece.
In case of 3D printing, the objects are manufactured from the start by adding layers of material. Instead of cutting or molding any object, one cross-sectional layer is inserted in the 3D printing at a time (Campbell, Williams, Ivanova & Garrett, 2011). The additive manufacturing starts by making a 3D model of the object which is created through computer-aided design application or by scanning the object. The model than sliced by specialised software which sends this information to the AM machine. The object then created by the machinery by adding one cross-sectional layer at a time.
The 3D printing technology is most suited for low volume production, instead of high volume production. The AM technology was designed to rapidly built prototypes of projects. But now the technology is being used by corporations for actual manufacturing. Other than prototypes, many engineers use 3D printing technology for manufacturing their product because it allows customisation, flexible design, easy assembling and in case of a small manufacturer, it allows for low volume production at low cost (Weller, Kleer & Piller, 2015).
Traditionally, the manufacturing process, such as injection molding, is used by corporations at a massive level. As per Petrick & Simpson (2013), 3D printing is enabling small manufacturers to produce small volume products at low prices which are reshaping the manufacturing industry. In traditional manufacturing, the price for production started to decrease once the company manufacture at a large volume scale, this is mainly correct in case of manufacturing plastic product. The process of injecting molding is significantly expensive when the production is low. Another benefit of 3D printing technology is that it assists in protecting the environment. The machinery of 3D printing uses 90 percent of the material used in the process, which reduces the waste of material. The AM printing method is energy efficient which reduces the energy cost of the company.
Gebler, Uiterkamp & Visser (2014) stated that the 3D printing technology is already being using in various industries to produce components of small volume. For example, the automotive industry uses AM printing technique to manufacture part of formula one race cars to provide high-end specialised parts. In the aerospace industry, the printing technology is used by companies to produces small parts of aircraft such as environmental control system duct on F-18. In custom orthodontics sector, the 3D printing technology assists the companies in making custom braces for the people. The 3D model of each patient’s dental impression is used in the process to manufacture their custom brace. Many companies such as Siemens Mobility, a German conglomerate, uses 3D printing technology for reducing cost and time in the low volume production of the part for a German transport service provider (Leigh et al., 2012).
Corporations use the additive manufacturing for production of various objects, currently, in a consumer application, the biggest market for 3D printing technology is hearing aid machines. As per Sandstrom (2016), around 90 percent of ear hearing aid is manufactured using 3D printing technology, and they are used by more than ten million peoples. Using of 3D printing technology in the health sector can be beneficial for a significant number of people, for example, many companies are making prosthetic arms and legs for the children suffered in a bomb blast. These devices benefit the children by making their life more comfortable.
As per Conner et al. (2014), one of the primary benefits of 3D printing technology is that it allows the production of complex shapes that cannot be produced otherwise. For example, the internal cooling channels are generated by AM technology which is difficult to manufacture otherwise. Therefore, the 3D printing tool is valuable in the situation where complex manufacturing is necessary.
The AM technique can be valuable in manufacturing complex products which require a high level of precision in the manufacturing procedure. The 3D printing technology requires a low level of expertise to operate, and it eliminates extensive labour requirements. The AM techniques use computer assistance which ensures that all the products are created precisely to reduce any inaccuracy in the product. In the industries, such as automobile and aerospace, the companies manufacture components which require a high level of precise details and labour expertise; these industries can benefit from the 3D printing technology (Mironov et al., 2008).
Many leading studies and investment firms have suggested that 3D printing technology industry is booming and gaining momentum in the past few years, this technology can revolutionise the entire manufacturing industry. In the cover story of Economist in 2011, the 3D printing technology was considered to be developed like computer industry; the technology will spread rapidly with the decrease in the prices (The Economist, 2011). In Ganter report, the AM technology was viewed as transformational which can be used in mass production after 5 to 10 years (Shanler & Basiliere, 2017).
Dredge (2014) written an article in ‘The Guardian’ stated various uses of 3D printing technology in today’s world and provided a different method in which companies are using this technology. As per the research of PwC, Curran (2016) provided that 3D printing technology is becoming easier to use and handle multiple materials which can enhance its use beyond rapid prototyping. In the research of DHL, the method in which future corporations will use AM technology was provided; most of the sector will use 3D printing technology to perform their work.
The 3D printing technology can have a significant influence on the transformation of manufacturing procedure; many of the old manufacturing techniques can become obsolete due to AM technique. The additive manufacturing will bring the process of production near the customers’ requirements; it means less production will require fulfilling the demand of customers. Furthermore, the 3D printing technology will reduce the necessity of build-up inventories for products. For example, 3D printed paper books which can be published, stored and sold the company, and quickly returned in case they did not get traded (Gross et al., 2014).
Other than lack of large inventories, the requirement of spare parts and shipping them for urgent orders will be obsolete as well. The cost of production will decrease due to lack of necessity for raw material and spare parts. The AM technology will also obsolete machinery tools, such as molding and stamping, because one printer will be able to manufacture a variety of products (Mellor, Hao & Zhang, 2014).
The 3D printing technology will obsolete manufacturing platforms such as China and India. The countries will be able to manufacture products in their domestic companies at low cost without outsourcing the work. One manufacturing facility will be able to make a range of products which will reduce the number of factories. The above changes will affect the customers significantly because they will be able to produce required products in their homes. The customers can buy a 3D printer in their home and build products for themselves for which software from companies can be provided.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 3D printing technology allows users to make rapid prototypes and other objects by creating a computer model of such product, in this process the computer make a product by adding layers, therefore, it is also known as additive manufacturing. The 3D printing technology is more suitable for low volume production at low cost, unlike other production methods such as injection molding. The technique is more valuable in case of manufacturing small and intricate parts for military, medical, airplanes or cars. According to various leading research’s conducted by corporations such as PwC or The Economist, the 3D printing technology will boom in next few years, and it benefits small manufacturers in producing low volume at lower costs. The traditional manufacturing such as injection molding, outsourcing manufacturing works and much more will be obsolete after the popularity of 3D printing technology. This technology will benefit the customers because it makes them closer to the production procedure.
References
Bijker, W. E., Hughes, T. P., Pinch, T., & Douglas, D. G. (2012). The social construction of technological systems: New directions in the sociology and history of technology. MIT press.
Campbell, T. A., Williams, C., Ivanova, O., & Garrett, B. (2011). Could 3D Printing Change the World? Technologies, Potential and Implications of Additive Manufacturing, Strategic Foresight. Atlantic Council (www. acus. org).
Conner, B. P., Manogharan, G. P., Martof, A. N., Rodomsky, L. M., Rodomsky, C. M., Jordan, D. C., & Limperos, J. W. (2014). Making sense of 3-D printing: Creating a map of additive manufacturing products and services. Additive Manufacturing, 1, 64-76.
Curran, C. (2016). The road ahead for 3-D printing. PwC. Retrieved from < https://usblogs.pwc.com/emerging-technology/the-road-ahead-for-3d-printing/ >
Dredge, S. (2014). 30 things being 3D printed right now (and none of them are guns). The Guardian. Retrieved from < https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/29/3d-printing-limbs-cars-selfies >
Gebler, M., Uiterkamp, A. J. S., & Visser, C. (2014). A global sustainability perspective on 3D printing technologies. Energy Policy, 74, 158-167.
Gross, B. C., Erkal, J. L., Lockwood, S. Y., Chen, C., & Spence, D. M. (2014). Evaluation of 3D printing and its potential impact on biotechnology and the chemical sciences.
Leigh, S. J., Bradley, R. J., Purssell, C. P., Billson, D. R., & Hutchins, D. A. (2012). A simple, low-cost conductive composite material for 3D printing of electronic sensors. PloS one, 7(11), e49365.
Mellor, S., Hao, L., & Zhang, D. (2014). Additive manufacturing: A framework for implementation. International Journal of Production Economics, 149, 194-201.
Mironov, V., Kasyanov, V., Drake, C., & Markwald, R. R. (2008). Organ printing: promises and challenges. Regenerative medicine, 3(1), 93-103.
Petrick, I. J., & Simpson, T. W. (2013). 3D printing disrupts manufacturing: how economies of one create new rules of competition. Research-Technology Management, 56(6), 12-16.
Sandström, C. G. (2016). The non-disruptive emergence of an ecosystem for 3D Printing—Insights from the hearing aid industry’s transition 1989–2008. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 102, 160-168.
Shanler, M. & Basiliere, P. 2017. Hype Cycle for 3D Printing, 2017. Gartner. Retrieved from < https://www.gartner.com/doc/3759564/hype-cycle-d-printing- >
The Economist. (2011). Print me a Stradivarius. The Economist. Retrieved from < https://www.economist.com/node/18114327 >
Weller, C., Kleer, R., & Piller, F. T. (2015). Economic implications of 3D printing: Market structure models in light of additive manufacturing revisited. International Journal of Production Economics, 164, 43-56.
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