In this article, we are going to talk about some of the advantages of 3D printing as it pertains to rapid prototyping. With no further ado, here they are:
It’s fast
3D printers can work faster than CNC machining, sheet metal, or turning. 3D printed parts are produced more quickly, and across a broad range of materials and shapes. All you’ll need is a 3D CAD model, which can be printed by the machine with no additional setup. The moment you finish your drafts, you can start printing them—and therefore, testing them immediately.
A part under 10 centimetres, for example, can take four hours to print. Parts under 20 centimetres can take 20 hours. Depending on the complexity of your prototype, you can have a working version of your design in under a week. As soon as you are satisfied with product testing, you can get back to the drawing board, tweak, print, and test again.
It’s affordable
3D printing, depending on the materials you use and the complexity of your prototype, can cost significantly less than traditional methods of prototyping. With traditional methods like CNC machining, for example, there are costs associated with materials, programming tool paths, configuration, and monitoring the machine. With 3D printing, all you’ll need is to send a file to the printer. The machine interprets the CAD model data on its own, and the finished part is removed for additional processes like sandblasting.
It offers more design possibilities
One of the most important benefits of 3D printing is that there are shapes that cannot be created any other way. There are limitations to CNC machining or sheet metal fabrication that are not present in 3D printing. Thin walls, sharper corners, and so on are just some of the things a 3D printer can create with no problems.
It can consolidate part fabrication
Rapid prototyping can allow product testers to consolidate multiple machined or fabricated parts. This can make the prototyping process more cost-effective, in addition to letting designers and engineers play around with alternate designs and part functions.
Other procedures related to 3D printing such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and HP Multi Jet Fusion (HP MJF), and Carbon DLS™ are great for fabricating end-use parts as well.
Final thoughts
These are just some of the benefits of rapid prototyping. There are plenty more, whether these are financial or from a design standpoint. That being said, there is no denying how much more smoothly the design process can proceed when 3D printing technologies are used for rapid prototyping.
If you’re in need of rapid prototyping in the UK, send us at 3D Quick Printing a message. We provide high-quality 3D printing all across the UK. all we need is your CAD data, .stl file, or step files to receive your quote within the hour.
