Technology

Top applications of 3D Printing

Welcome back! From the last blog to this, we are sure millions of new items must have been produced using 3D Printing, and scores of new ways must have been discovered for utilizing additive manufacturing. Such is the pace of adoption of 3D Printing.

Among the hundreds of possible applications, today, we shall look at the most impactful and interesting ones. Here we go!

Prototyping

Faster. Easier. Inexpensive.

When designing new products, don’t you wish the process of making prototypes was fast, easy, and inexpensive. That’s precisely how 3D Printing allows it to be.

Unlike traditional manufacturing, which is expensive and takes up a lot of time and effort to produce a prototype of the correct dimensions, 3D Printing can produce highly complex geometries in a short time – reducing the turnaround from a few weeks to a few days. This also allows more iterations to be made, thus, improving the overall design process.

Robotics

Robotics is continuously evolving to merge advanced electronics with complex mechanical structures – which can now be easily produced with 3D Printing. If the same is to be produced using traditional methods, costs turn out to be relatively high. The time consumed in reprocessing is saved, too. Thus, making the production process quicker.

Robotics faces another challenge – the weight of the parts. Complex shapes made through traditional methods can be very heavy. On the other hand, 3D Printed objects can be lighter and more robust. The following advantages are reduced assembly time, reduced breakdown of robotic parts, and improved efficiency in running tests on robot performance.

Medicine and medical equipment

Biomedical implants and medical devices such as hearing aids, prosthetic limbs, etc., are some of the most critical applications of 3D Printing. Especially with orthopedic implants, 3D Printing’s ability to produce porous surfaces is highly beneficial as it helps the implant integrate easily with the patient’s bones. 3D Printing also allows the medical devices to be custom-made to one’s physical characteristics, unlike the alternatives already in practice.

Drug pills produced using 3D Printing can also be very porous, enabling higher dosages in a single tablet that can be dissolved quickly and digested easily.

Education

The 3D printing technology is a true asset to education as the process allows complex ideas to live in the real world. 3D Printing is the solution to give life to our study material and enable everyone to manipulate complex ideas physically.

 It allows students to push their experiments and projects further and print mechanical parts, architectural mock-ups, and prototypes. Online 3D Printing gives students studying engineering, architecture, design, etc., the chance to quickly bring their project to life in conditions simulating the professional life. This helps students improve their critical thinking due to a practical approach to the subject.

3D printing bridges the gap between ideas on a page or screen and three-dimensional representations.

Chemical Industry

The chemical industry can benefit mainly from 3D Printing, primarily in Research and Development. When developing some new formula or a chemical structure, scientists can bring the microscopic images to life by 3D Printing them. They can look at it closely from all angles and derive their conclusions easily.

Conclusion

Looking at just five areas of applications of 3D Printing leaves us amazed at their utility and impact. It also makes us guess what else could be made through 3D Printing to improve the existing world. We shall keep a tab on the upcoming news from the 3D Printing world and be sure to share it with you.

Stay tuned to our Knowledge Corner for the latest updates.

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