Having recently run a successful 3D printing competition, our company has had a first hand view of what these crafty machines are capable of. The concept has been around for decades, and early working machines have been in production since the mid-1980s, but 3D printing has been creating an enormous amount of interest over the past year as technology advances open this world up to businesses everywhere. Now the machines and materials have breached the affordability gap, professionals who could benefit from using this form of three-dimensional printing can get industry standard machines at realistic prices. This wasn't the case just a few years ago.
There’s still a small way to go as far as speed of printing is concerned, but that’s bound to happen over the next few years. Now could well be the time to find a simple model and start experimenting, as this new era of creative technology could well lead to a major overhaul in many areas of the business world. To consider this potential, here are five ways in which 3D printing could create opportunities for business right now, and in the future.
In every manufacturing industry, from crockery to cars, a number of prototypes need to be made to check the products’ visual impact, functionality and ergonomic qualities. In the past, this has always been the work of full-time model makers working in metal, wood, clay and plastics. This is, of course, a time-consuming way to create things that by their very nature are going to be re-designed and changed, a multi-stage process before mass production can start.
This is all going to change with 3D printing. Designers can now send their prototypes to the printer as easily as they can sneak off a CV – that is, at the touch of a button. Several designs with slight modifications can be knocked off in a matter of hours, and technology is now at the stage where machining can be fine enough to barely reveal the tell-tale layers. And best of all, the models can have moving parts straight from the printer.
2. Manufacture and Mass Production
It’s well known many high-tech industries (such as aerospace and computing) have grasped the huge benefits of 3D printing for creating components that would be difficult to mould or machine. As the technology improves, and the cost reduces, it’s not hard to envisage how all sorts of manufacturing industries will also make the the switch from assembly lines to banks of 3D printers.
We’re still a long way from creating materials such as high tensile metals whose molecular structure is different from the layered structure of 3D printing. There has been a lot of media attention to the dangers of 3D printed guns whose blueprints can be downloaded from the internet, and which therefore circumvent gun laws in various jurisdictions. This has been one of the negative aspects to emerge from the whole 3D printing arena, but clearly the possibilities for affordable, effective mass production can't be ignored.
3. A 3D Printing Industry
The affordability of paper printers hasn’t heralded the demise of professional printers, and nor will domestic 3D printers see off professional 3D printing companies. There will always be a gap between home quality and the speed available to companies with larger budgets to keep abreast of technology. At the moment it doesn’t make any commercial sense to buy a pro 3D printer for occasional crafting, but companies churning out high quality products will see benefits from providing the service to customers.
There are already several companies trading online, such as Shapeways and Ponoko, who will print your designs and mail them to you, and there could be an opportunity for high street printers to diversify into the third dimension. Interestingly, however, the actual printers remain the realm of smaller technology companies. A quick search online shows that Canon, Lexmark, and Epson seem to have little interest in the medium; only HP is producing a commercially available 3D printer. Time will tell whether this is a wise decision, or perhaps there are secretly models in development already.
4. Spares and Repairs
When domestic ownership of 3D printers reaches a tipping point, it’s likely companies will offer spares and repairs as downloadable components. There will be no week-long waits for parts to be located (or made), packaged and shipped – you’ll simply be able to fix your broken and worn-out parts by printing them off. The service will no doubt be available for customers who require higher-spec replacement parts to get them from their local 3D printing outlets, too.
Finnish phone manufacturer Nokia recently announced customers would be able to design and download custom cases for their Lumia phones for 3D printing. This displays there is commercial potential not only in replacing damaged components, but also for making optional extras and modifications.
5. A Threat To Manufacturing
This might be a giant leap into the future, but on current trajectories, and using 2D printers as a guide, there could come a point in the next 20 years where the cost, quality, and ease of use of 3D printers means most homes will own one. Furthermore, the range of materials that can be 3D printed is sure to grow, and as resolution improves, subtleties of texture, colour, and other qualities will be achievable. When this point is reached, will there even be a need for factories? It’s surely true many manufacturing operations will need to work hard to compete with 3D printing. Heavy industry such as producing chemicals, mining, energy generation and such like are probably safe for now, but as the scale gets smaller, there could be a palpable impact on all sorts of manufacture, from 3D printed jewellery (which is already here) to bikes, toys, clothing, and food (NASA have been trying out this option for future deep space missions).
It would be wrong to judge the future 3D printing industry on any models you might have been fortunate enough to see and hold over the past year. Despite huge advances, the medium is around the Bronze Age in terms of development. But if you’ve ever been amazed at the quality your desktop inkjet printer is capable of, you’re going to be blown away when 3D printing reaches the same level, and as a business you may want to be a part of this outstanding new business opportunity.
