Intro to 3D Printing

By: Sumay McPhail

Hello everybody! Today I’m going to be talking about additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing! I will be answering three questions, what is 3D printing, why 3D printing is important, and what the costs and benefits are of doing 3D printing. I hope you enjoy reading!

What is 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing? Additive manufacturing (AM), also called 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that builds objects by adding layer-by-layer. AM stands in contrast to traditional “Injection Molding” and "Subtractive Manufacturing" processes that remove material from larger blocks. AM provides a potential solution that can also be harnessed more easily by new startups without the capital to build large manufacturing plants.

Why is 3D printing important? AM provides a potential solution that can also be harnessed more easily by new startups without the capital to build large manufacturing plants. AM can also reduce the time required to design and produce manufactured goods, save on material costs, create more complex objects, tailor goods to individual consumers, and create stronger, lighter and more flexible objects. 3D printing has shown us what might glimpse into the future of manufacturing as we know it.

What are the costs and benefits of 3D printing? Here are some benefits! By printing 3D objects, we no longer need to weld things together. A variety of different shapes and structures can be made with 3D printing that cannot be made any other way. You can reproduce different parts of certain objects easily without having to buy an entire new product. Here are the costs. Not all materials can be used in 3D printers. Some metal additive manufacturers leave behind a kind of poisonous dust after working with the metal. The item has to pass through many regulations for it to go to shops and the public.

Thank you for reading about 3D printing! I hope you enjoyed and now understand what 3D printing is, why 3D printing is important, and what the costs and benefits are of doing 3D printing! While the additive manufacturing idea isn’t a booming industry yet, once people realize the positive implications 3D printing will have on their business...what’s stopping it from becoming one?