Additive manufacturing solutions have completely changed the way objects are manufactured today. Though there are still some companies using traditional methods in 2023, more and more businesses turn to 3D manufacturing technologies that uses these solutions. Here is a short explanation on why companies are adopting these manufacturing processes today.
DED: An Addictive Manufacturing Technology that offers More to Customers
In order to switch from one process to another, companies must find added value. One of the issues that some of them previously had, was the complexity of building large parts. Thanks to DED (Directed Energy Deposition) additive manufacturing, it is now possible to create parts of much larger dimensions with a high structural integrity. These components can be found in the aerospace and automotive industries, which previously had no other solutions than to use the traditional process available to them. It meant that in order to produce a single part, there would be a need to fabricate many elements that the company would have to put together afterwards. With DED, they can get their parts in one piece, right from the first production process.
DED manufacturing also has several other advantages over traditional manufacturing techniques, including the ability to incorporate multiple materials into a single part. This can provide various qualities that are required for a given object, such as resistance to heat or more flexibility. It also offers a faster build time and more freedom to the designer when drawing the parts.
Additive Manufacturing Solutions possess Qualities that Customers look For
The potential of metal additive manufacturing solutions is best understood through the description of its numerous capacities. The fact that it can create prototypes in less time than ever is one of the major advantages it offers. It allows companies to quickly produce them, so they can make changes easily, until they come up with a final product that satisfies all their requirements. Before, in order to create a prototype, a mold would have had to be made, wasting time and adding to the cost. Now, the plans are being reproduced immediately by the use of 3D printing technology.
The fact that any 3D plans inserted into the software of the machine (they have to be compatible with the software) can be reproduced identically through additive manufacturing solutions, has enabled designers to create parts that are more complex. Before, they were simply impossible to build, at least not in a single action. This new acquired freedom by designers has made it possible to innovate more easily and to distinguish one company’s product from the other in ways that were simply impossible before.
A Totally New Supply Chain
What additive manufacturing brought to the industry is a supply chain that has been fully optimized. It has reduced the need for inventory, since lead times for every order is now much shorter. Also, the variation in cost is noticeable. Before, the price difference for 100 and 1,000 objects could see an increase that made it simply uninteresting to produce, if it wasn’t done in very large quantities. Nowadays, if a single part is needed, it can be produced right away through the use of an additive manufacturing solution, especially if a machine is kept in-house. But even if the customer has to go through a manufacturer, the delay will be much shorter, and they can get that single part at a reasonable price.
Conclusion
It is easy to understand why such factors as the ones described above has led to the growth of additive manufacturing solutions and why it is now used by so many companies across a wide range of industries. To say that is has revolutionized the manufacturing process is certainly not an exaggeration when you consider the unique benefits it offers in terms of design, cost efficiency, precise customization and supply chain optimization.
