How To Manufacture Something

3D printing has the power to change some lives out there. There are so many applications to this technology, and there will continue to be an expansion of applications. Before we even cover some of the applications of this technology, let’s discuss what 3D printing actually is.

3D printing is a form of manufacturing that combats the traditional styles of manufacturing. This process doesn’t involve machining. This process doesn’t involve a person chiseling away at a block of material. This manufacturing technology doesn’t necessarily have to do with molds. It is different in its own way. Let’s discuss what makes it different.

3D printing involves the layer by layer creation of products, parts, instruments, or whatever you’d like to name the final product. There are several styles of 3D printing, but most of which involve uploading a 3D image and clicking “go” on the machine used to manufacture parts, or the 3D printer. This technology operates using a CAM system, or a computer aided manufacturing system. This means that the computer will end up telling the ink jet, ultraviolet light, lasers, extruder, or whatever: where to go, and how much material to lay down. I’ve mentioned layers multiple times within this article, let me elaborate on those layers.

For a product to come about through 3D printing, it will be manufactured layer by layer. There are several types of 3D printing like I mentioned earlier, but regardless of the method – this technology is a form of additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing involves laying down layers of material on top of each other to result in a final product. Various methods involve laying down melted material on top of each other. Some methods involve an ultraviolet light curing liquid resins. Some methods involve melting together material with a laser, one layer at a time. There are quite a few options to which this technology should work.

How does it all come together though; how does it work? Let me walk you through the process. For a person to receive a piece made through 3D printing, you need a few things. First off, you will need to design a 3D image. This image will serve as the blueprint for the product that you wish to manufacture. This can be made by you, or you can hire someone else to do it. Secondly, you will either need to purchase a printer, or more likely you will come into contact with a 3D printing facility. This facility will take your models, load them into the printer(s), and will manufacture them for you. So you would end up sending the digital image to the facility, the technicians would load the image into the 3D printer itself, and they would essentially press the “go” button. Some forms of this technology need de-powdering, infiltration, polishing, removal of support materials, or whatever! Some forms of this technology don’t require any after-touches to be done to the final piece. It really depends on the method of 3D printing that you’re interested in. Assuming that there isn’t any after-touching to be done, after the model is manufactured, payment and shipping are the only real issues to deal with! There you have it, that’s how 3D printing works in a nutshell.