Three-dimensional printing is changing the face of manufacturing, offering a cheaper, time efficient and more accurate solution to other, more traditional production methods. Once only considered suitable for creating prototypes, 3D printing has now progressed to become a cutting-edge industrial-production technology and excitingly, it continues to evolve.

Changing the face of construction, architecture, the medical industry and even fashion and food, companies like Rolls Royce, Boeing, Ford and Nike are all using 3D printing as part of their everyday operations. All you need to start the 3D printing process is a CAD drawing, and here at DATS we’re producing designs for lots of different clients, across various sectors, getting them ‘3D print-ready’ and helping to take their design from initial concept to reality.

But what exactly is 3D printing?

It’s completely computer controlled, allowing users to create a physical, 3D object from a digital, on-screen model. It’s a process of layering thin, horizontal cross sections of the object, building it up, bit by bit, which has led to 3D printing also being known as ‘additive manufacturing.’ There are a number of different types of technology that can be used to produce a 3D print: ‘electron beam melting,’ ‘fused deposition modelling,’ ‘binder jetting’ and ‘laser sintering’ are just a few on the ever-expanding list.

The range of materials with which to print continues to grow too and includes metals, ceramics, textiles, plastics and even food! The part that takes the most skill is the finishing process that’s normally required which can include lacquering, painting or sanding the 3D printed object to complete the process.

Although it may seem like new technology, 3D printing has actually been around since the ‘90s, with the largest improvements having happened in the last ten years or so. Today, of course, the precision and range of materials that can be used to print have greatly advanced – it’s now easier than ever for designers to access 3D printing technology.

What are the advantages of 3D printing?

If you think that 3D printing is just a fad, think again. There are a whole host of advantages that means that 3D printing is here to stay. Let’s look at just some of them:

• Design freedom – the fact that layers are created one at a time means that there are few limits on complex geometrics or unusual shapes. The barriers imposed by some traditional manufacturing methods have been completely knocked down by 3D printing and creatives can enjoy complete design freedom.
• Sustainability – owing once more to the layering technique used by 3D printers, there’s less waste with only the exact amount of material needed for the print being used. This is opposed to other manufacturing processes where materials may be milled or ‘cut out’ creating waste material that’s often just disposed of.
• Cost savings – for the same reasons, 3D printing saves money. Less waste means costs are reduced, and further reductions can be made on things like labour, machine maintenance and parts.
• Precision – 3D printing is computer-driven, so objects are created precisely and to the exact measurements of your CAD drawing.
• Bespoke designs – because 3D printing builds up layers, it’s simple to customise or tweak a design to produce one-off variations. So long as you have the CAD drawing for the computer and printer to read, there’s no limit to the number of one-off, tailored designs you can create. This is also a huge benefit to companies regularly producing prototypes for pitches or product development.
• Time savings – even the most complex of designs can be produced quickly with 3D printing. Simply upload your CAD model to the system and the printing process is all very quick. Time’s also saved through 3D printing being a one-step process – your item doesn’t need to follow the flow of a production line which could involve several stages. Within just a few hours your object or part can be ready to go.