3D printing has been around in concept for decades but it wasn’t until the 2010s when it really took off across industries. Aside from references in works of fiction, 3D printing as we know it dates to 1971, when inventor Johannes F. Gootwald patented the Liquid Metal Recorder, a device that’s considered the precursor to 3D printing. Since then, as technologies have evolved, 3D printing has gone from being a novel concept to a useful tool that helps design engineers and their organizations prototype and manufacture components for their applications.

Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing has exploded in popularity in recent years, and gone are the days of 3D printing being associated with proof-of-concept products or poor-quality prototypes only. Today, key benefits of 3D printing include expedited product development, precision accuracy, the ability to print using a wide range of materials, how scalable it is, the ability to handle complex geometry without an inflated price tag, all resulting in how affordable 3D printing prototype costs have become. In fact, technologies have become so advanced indicating the manufacture of 3D-printed products can even reduce waste and provide a more sustainable world to live in.

A Closer Look at 3D Printing Benefits

The goal: expedited product development that boosts overall efficiency without inflating costs. With 3D printing, imagining the reduction of your organization’s labor costs while completing your application’s parts and components sooner with precision accuracy becomes reality. One of the signature benefits of 3D printing is it reduces the chance of production errors. Prototypes manufactured are extremely accurate, meaning you can shift gears to refine your final part or component for final production.

Choosing from a wide range of materials may seem overwhelming if you aren’t accustomed to it, but being open to new printing processes and materials will help you complete your application faster and cheaper, as 3D printing reduces your overall prototype cost. With help from our team, our experts can help you choose the most effective printing methods to meet your requirements.

Ultimately, with the precision and speed that comes from 3D printing you can worry less about production and think more about how your new components will integrate into your larger systems and final product. This allows you to think more strategically while incorporating your high-level business needs. Further, 3D printers can handle complex geometry which allows for the production of more intricate and detailed prototypes at a reduced cost per unit.

How Does 3D Printing Your Products Reduce Waste?

Nearly all 3D printers can be used to make products in rapid succession, but industrial 3D printers come with a host of advanced benefits, especially for companies interested in the prototyping and manufacturing of their products using sustainable methods. This is because unlike more traditional methods of production, which often results in a lot of leftover scraps, 3D printing builds items layer-by-layer, resulting in zero waste. Raw materials used for 3D printing also tend to be more sustainable than the steel or plastic commonly used for traditional manufacturing.

Explore the Benefits of Our 3D Printing Capabilities

We are a leading prototype manufacturing company with rapid production 3D printing capabilities. We can build models in the following sizes:

SLA Models: Up to 25.6″ x 29.5″ x 21.65″ (650mm x 750mm x 550mm)
FDM Models: Up to: 36″ x 24″ x 36″ (914mm x 610mm x 914mm)
SLS Models: Up to 15″ x 13″ x 18″ (550mm x 550mm x 460mm)
Polyjet Models: Up to 19.7″ x 15.7″ x 7.9″ (500mm x 400mm x 200mm)

Our experts can also produce larger models capable of being virtually any size, as they can be sectioned and assembled upon completion. Contact us to learn more about our capabilities or to get started.