The trend of additive manufacturing is growing exponentially across multiple industries because of higher flexibility and customization. Companies are shifting towards 3d printing to fulfill customers’ demands at a shorter turnaround time from automobile to architecture and manufacturing.
Most people wonder if this modern advancement will replace traditional manufacturing in the future. The short answer to this question is no, and there are several reasons behind it. This technology may replace certain time-consuming aspects of traditional manufacturing, but the complete replacement is far.
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On the other side, the combination of additive manufacturing technologies, along with traditional processes, can play wonders for companies. Manufacturers can boost their production and offer more cutting-edge quality while using the combination of both. Let’s explore how traditional manufacturing companies can scale their business with the integration of additive manufacturing.
For better prototyping
A traditional manufacturing industry can improve its prototyping method by integrating 3d printing with the conventional process. With 3d printing, rapid prototyping is faster, flexible, and more iterative. However, this advanced prototyping lags when it comes to performing it on a mass-production scale.
Here the combination of additive manufacturing or 3d printing with conventional prototyping can speed up the process with higher quality output. If a traditional company needs multiple prototypes with a certain quality achievable only with a traditional method, the combination can play wonders. This advanced amalgamation will speed up the design iteration process without sacrificing the needful robust quality.
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For conducting Design of Experiments (DoE), it is an ideal approach for manufacturing companies. This integration will ease engineers’ work when the prototypes contain multi-assembly parts that need superior quality.
Wider customization scope
When modern 3d printing service and conventional manufacturing processes work together, the scope for customization improves. For example, traditional methods like CNC and 3d printing can manufacture more robust and customization objects in multiple parts.
Additive manufacturing can produce certain sub-parts with higher geometrical precision, and CNC can produce other parts with more excellent durability. Be it automotive’s spare parts or large size mechanical equipment, engineers can achieve higher customization.
Using this combination, companies can achieve better design optimization along with superior product wear & tear capability. Industries like defence, manufacturing, and construction where frequent and high-quality replacements are in demand, this combination can save both time and resources. Many companies are now offering this particular 3d print service in Australia and other countries to boost the production of traditional manufacturers.
Overall less material wastage
Additive manufacturing industry is known for optimum usage of materials while producing final products. On the other hand, traditional companies use subtractive methods to create objects. The purpose of both processes is the same. However, the cost and time ratio speaks a different story.
To minimize the gap between time and material costing, companies can leverage both of these technologies in their mainstream manufacturing. Engineers can 3d print certain sub-parts of a more extensive assembly that requires excessive manual work and material. The overall material wastage will be lower, and it will slash the production cost.
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In a process like CNC, where creating a master mould requires more time than making the replicas, 3d printing can speed up the process. Engineers can use additive manufacturing technology to create the master mould and then initiate the conventional CNC method for replication. By doing this simple advancement, technicians can make the product life cycle shorter and faster. Several companies now offer such 3d printing in Brisbane, Melbourne and other cities to slash the material wastage.
Reduced production timeline
Manufacturing companies can reduce their existing production timeline by integrating additive technologies into the current system. Traditional companies use methods like injection moulding and CNC to produce complex design structures. And, when it comes to applying the needful modification, the production gets on the back seat, and ultimately, it results in delay.
To ease and pace this manufacturing process, companies can use 3d printing to produce parts that come with the challenge of intricate geometrical structure. Additive manufacturing is a resource-efficient method that can make these complex design parts in shorter lead times.
The consumer product industry can benefit from this combination where the demand for personalization and robust durability is higher. As many traditional manufacturing companies are still leveraging the resource-intensive approach, the introduction of 3d printing will be a boon. Many conventional method companies have already started using 3d print service in Melbourne and other places to ease their production timeline.
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Future scope of traditional and additive manufacturing
Considering the future of this combination, none of the technology will replace each other. However, both can work excellently well together to ease multiple manufacturing challenges. This combination can reduce production overhead along with improving final product quality.
When engineers integrate reliable conventional methods with flexible modern approaches, the result is revolutionary. Additive manufacturing is the future of manufacturing, and we will see more use cases of such integrations. The combination will help manufacturers remove many traditional processes and scale the business with higher design accuracy.
With all these benefits, companies can optimize their tooling process and reduce the production and post-production cost. In industries like aerospace, where engineers need to deal with heavy material wastage, this combination will save substantial cost. Want to explore more about traditional and additive manufacturing? Get in touch with Zeal 3d Printing and experience the best 3d printing in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane.
