Introduction
Many people complicate 3D printing as a technology that is too complex to understand. It should be pointed out that 3D printing is not something that is very new. In fact, it has been around for quite some years.
It is only in the recent past that industries have been able to integrate 3D printing into their business models, products, and services.
The simplicity of using the technology is what is making 3D printing and technology go really mainstream. In this article, we are going to look at five industries that are greatly benefitting from 3D printing.
However, before we get to the list of industries, let us first look at some of the major benefits of using 3D printing.
Major Advantages of 3D Printing and Technologies
According to experts, the following are some of the major advantages of 3D Printing-
- Ease of Printing Complex Designs– 3D printing allows for complex and sophisticated designs to be created with relative ease. Many industrial printers that are used for modelling often come with certain restrictions. However, 3D printing does away with almost all the restrictions.
- Little Time to Create Prototypes– Every industry looks to first create prototypes that are then put into actual production. Creating a prototype can take months and years. With 3D printing, you can get the same done within hours. This brings down the time factor in creating prototypes drastically.
- Print on Demand Feature– With the little timeframe required to print, 3D printing allows firms to do something known in industry circles as ‘print on demand’. This prevents inventory from piling up and allows for businesses to proceed on a use basis. Preventing stockpiling helps in saving money.
List of the Top 5 Applications of 3D Printing in Different Industries
- Defense Industry-
In the last few years, the defence industry has been leading the adoption of 3D printing technologies. Companies that are into heavy manufacturing of defence equipment often take help from 3D printing to create workable prototypes. Accessories manufacturing in the industry also refers to this company that helps create stellar products using 3D technologies.
- Construction Industry-
Big developers create everything from national highways to railway bridges, stadiums, and residential complexes. Construction is probably one industry that has been able to use 3D printing when it comes to showcasing models and concepts. Earlier, the same used to create weeks and require multiple human beings to create things by hand.
- Medicine Industry-
The medicine industry has been able to use 3D printing for creating prosthetics aiding victims of accidents, wars, and other individuals needing them. 3D printing is helping in everything from understanding the effects of drugs in internal organs to create capsules and tablets that are being used in mass production. This allows for a better spread of medicines in the human body.
- The Jewelry Industry-
In recent years, the world’s leading jewellery creators are experimenting with 3D printing. This also allows companies to create one-off pieces that can be highly customized in record time. You do not have to wait for weeks to allow an artisan to create a piece. With 3D printing, you can get a complex design within a few hours done.
- Heavy Engineering and Manufacturing Industry-
If you have seen machines that have gears and levers in them, you might have seen how complex they really are. When a business uses 3D printing for creating models and prototypes, it greatly accelerates the finish time from concept to final production. It also allows for the identification of problems and loopholes that might come into the design process.
The Bottom Line
There is reason to believe that 3D printing has possibilities for almost all industries. From speeding up time to improving the production of the final product, 3D technology can help in multiple ways. Can you list some more industries that are benefitting from 3D technology in the comments section below?
@TechmashUK #TechmashUK