Imagine going to a dentist office with a broken tooth. But before you lay down and get it fixed, a dentist scans your mouth with a small digital device. This mysterious gadget takes a unique picture of your damaged tooth and sends it directly to a computer. As soon as this step is completed, your dentist opens up a CAD software, designs a tooth repair and prints the finished product on his 3D printer. All together with the other surgical tools needed to proceed with your dental treatment.
Doesn’t it sound efficient?!
Good news, this revolutionary scenario isn’t a futuristic dream, but just one of the countless examples of additive manufacturing applications.
Ok, but what is additive manufacturing exactly and why do we need it?
In simple words, additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a process that enables creation of a physical object from a digital design. Designs are created in a computer software, sliced into thin layers and sent to a 3D printer.
The additive manufacturing machine builds a three-dimensional object up- layer by layer- using a fine powder material exposed to high temperatures.
For those who had paid attention to the current tech industry’s demands, it is not a surprise that 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular. It allows engineers to create a product that is lighter, stronger and more durable than traditionally made parts. Offers an on-demand manufacturing of both simple and geometrically-complex items without increasing cost, as well as, promotes flexible production and innovation within a scientific, medical and technical industry by enabling faster and cheaper prototyping.
What are currently the most common applications of additive manufacturing?
In recent years, 3D printing has been optimized and widely used in manufacturing, medicine, architecture and art. Applied for creating both functional and aesthetic objects. The rapid growth of additive manufacturing inspired multiple companies across industries not only to adopt the technology, but also to find new, creative ways to enforce 3D printing into their business models. Good example comes from the Aerospace& Defence- now using 3D printed components to reduce the weight of aircrafts and increase the material efficiency.
How does additive manufacturing shape the future of industrial manufacturing?
Additive manufacturing has been called the next Revolution in Industrial Manufacturing for a good reason (or two) and it has been used by the two thirds of manufacturers already. The rest is catching up quickly.
Key trends..
On-demand and low-volume production, faster and more efficient prototyping, product development and innovation are the main drivers for choosing additive manufacturing. The consumer electronics and automotive industries employ this technology for prototyping, while medical industry, the third largest 3D printing market in the world, has already started using additive manufacturing for a mass production of medical devices, such as hearing adds.
Additive manufacturing has also been tried out for making sensors for various applications. Due to the complicated nature of sensors, the current prototypes are hybrids, assembled from few different 3D printed structures. There are many challenges to face when it comes to printing sensors, such as printing sensing elements, conductors and insulators, as well as, interconnecting external devices.
New 3D printing processes, novel printable materials and a use of commercial 3D printers for specialized sensing applications are being currently tested.
Despite many advantages, experts predict that 3D printing will most likely not replace the traditional manufacturing entirely yet. Sadly, the cost of equipment and materials used for additive manufacturing is still high and choice of the available materials-limited.
