3D Printing: Revolutionizing Manufacturing

This assignment delves into the transformative impact of 3D printing on modern manufacturing. It examines the benefits of low-volume production, including reduced risk, design flexibility, and cost savings. The analysis also explores the implications of 3D printing for traditional manufacturing processes, highlighting both automation and job displacement. Furthermore, the ethical challenges posed by 3D printing, such as copyright infringement and the potential for creating dangerous items, are discussed.

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3D Printing
Name
Affiliate Institution

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Executive Summary
Application of 3D printing in manufacturing industries is still at its infant stage but in the coming
years with application of other technologies as nanotechnology and synthetic biology, it has the
capability to revolutionize product designs, development and logistical operations. This
document gives an overview of 3D printing, its current usage and future implementations. Also,
it will outline the various aspects associated with 3D printing; Why 3D printing is also called
additive manufacturing, the suitability of 3D printing in either high or low production volumes,
the value of 3D in various situations, forecast of 3D printing and how 3D is making traditional
manufacturing vague. Low-volume production of 3D printing is constantly developing as well
as the industry capabilities. Manufacturing of low volume minimizes risk, allows flexibility of
design, minimizes time for marketing, and provide opportunities to save cost of production. This
is an industry that is fast-paced and will constantly offer benefits for established and new
companies.

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Additive Manufacturing...................................................................................................................4
3D Printing Production....................................................................................................................4
Situations Where 3D Printing Most Valuable.................................................................................6
Forecast of 3D printing....................................................................................................................6
Effectiveness of 3D Over Traditional Methods...............................................................................6
Impacts of 3D printing to Traditional Manufacturing.....................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References List..............................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
In today’s world, 3D printing is taking over the manufacturing processes at an increasing rate.
This technology is sometimes a tangled new processes, materials, web technologies and
functionalities that causes navigation of ecosystem of 3D printing difficult. 3D printing doesn’t
just point out on one type of manufacturing process technologies but is rather a sophisticated
technology that needs greater understanding. This technology converts models which are in 3D
to solid products by developing these objects in layers. In the recent years, 3D printing
technology has started to advance into a whole new level of generation in manufacturing
industries. 3D has made it possible to print a variety of products like pure metals, ceramics,
thermoplastics and its composites and a variety types of food. This document will outline the
various aspects associated with 3D printing; Why 3D printing is also called additive
manufacturing, the suitability of 3D printing in either high or low production volumes, the value
of 3D in various situations, forecast of 3D printing and how 3D is making traditional
manufacturing vague.
Additive Manufacturing
3D printing is a process of creating solid objects of three dimensions from digital file. 3D
printing is also called additive manufacturing as this solid objects are created using additive
processes.
In an additive process, creation of an object is achieved by developing materials in successive
layers until the object is made. Every layer is seen as horizontal cross-section that are thinly
sliced of the final object. 3D printing allows production of complex shapes using few raw
materials. (Kocovic, 2017).
3D Printing Production
3D printing is best suited with low volumes of production due to the following reasons:
Saves Money- 3D printing is economical in low volumes production since the cost per unit rely
highly on the materials being utilized. For instance, tool steel (various alloy and carbon steel that
are hard to disfigure and resistant to scuffs and scrapes) is costly to use and requires huge

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investment of material by the company if it will be used to produce parts regularly particularly
for injection molding or pressure die casting. To endure large scale production process, the tool
steel requires hardening with the use of heat treatment and coated occasionally using PVD
(physical vapor deposition). (Roebuck, 2011).
Bearing this in mind, manufacturing of low volumes approximately up to 100,000 pieces may
minimize huge investments in a great way. If the eventual product doesn’t require to withstand
stress of high levels, then using a less durable tool type and have a heat treat of low-volume
manufacturer and machine it would be more economical. This process will still yield product of
high quality while ensuring money is saved. It will also be less costly and easier to replace if the
tools wear out which rarely occurs. (Gibson, Rosen, & Stucker, 2015).
Additionally, facilities of large volume manufacturing normally dictate order requirements that
are minimum to compensate huge production investments and deal with cost of set up. Products
in low-volume production can be created without having to demand a minimum order since it
has a lower overhead. This is beneficial particularly for firms looking to obtain product made on
small scale. Production of low volumes become perfect especially if an organization is aware
that the structure of the part may change and would wish to prevent being drown with inventory
that is outdated generated with minimum order requirements by large manufacturers. (Segerman,
2016).
Low-Volume production grants firms Design Flexibility- low volumes production of 3D printing
offer design flexibility that high production cannot fit. Since production of products is in small
quantities, it fails to impact the whole order if a firm want to change the design. As such the
company get an option to create the product perfectly before it is delivered to the consumer.
Low volume production allows product to be more accurate by using the feedback from the
consumer. Low volume production of the product can be done with multiple variations of a
feature.
Production of Low-Volume Ensures a Faster Time to Market- optimization of supply chains and
manufacturing support for low volumes enhances shorter lead times, making sure products hit
faster shelves days, weeks or months compared to high volumes. In addition, a company is able

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to minimize pressure to developers and designers and therefore facilitating production of high
quality and unique product. (Barnatt, 2013).
Companies that are able to hit the market first are able to capitalize on the trends of the consumer
and short-lived fads.
Production of Low-Volume offers an Option for Bridge Production- low volume production can
be used for bridge tooling between phases of full-scale production and prototyping. As such
manufacturing using low volume gets products to the market faster and helps firms create ideas
for alternatives due to the high cost of up-front and time for high volume production. Because
increase of volume is gradual, companies get an opportunity to smoothen practices that are best
and save further cost while improving quality of the product.
Situations Where 3D Printing Most Valuable
Ways in which 3D printing can be suitable. For instance, development of hearing aids- 90% of
this hearing aids have been produced using 3D printing an around the world over 10 million
people are using them. Also it is can be very important when setting up titanium implants and
other plastic implants that have higher value and potentially can dominate the market. In
addition, customization of hip implants can bring forward immense positive results, even though
the current application is smaller. (Horvath, 2014).
Forecast of 3D printing
Highly customizable parts and low volume production will be revolutionized by 3 D printing. Its
application will expand in the customer market as well as manufacturing markets for example
aerospace and automotive, medical devices and implants, chemical and energy. It will reduce the
time spent from designing to developing, minimize costs of prototypes, provide greater design
complexity, reduce lead time, and enable production of lighter products. 3D printing is expected
to continuously outdo the traditional manufacturing methods with continued evolution of
technology. The driving force of 3D printing however, is expected to come from the
manufacturing industries. (Šramka & Ružický, 2016).

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Effectiveness of 3D Over Traditional Methods
This part tries to describe and outline the best process that a manufacturing company can
implement to produce its parts. Can one choose 3D printing or injection molding? Deciding on
the method to implement can be very complex and specific to a case.
Unit Cost and Order Volume Considerations
Injection molding prerequisites is to first to come up with the mold. The cost of molds keeps on
changing depending on the case and the cheapest one can cost approximately $5000. The cost of
developing the various units becomes less after the mold have been created. This therefore,
shows that the initial cost of creating a mold gets covered during the production run, as you
produce the various units the cost keeps on reducing. (Tucker, Tucker, Eastham, Gibson, Varma,
& Daim, 2014).
3D printing is totally a different approach to production. With this approach there is no initial
cost required for making a new part or unit since this this approach is a digital manufacturing
technology. The cost of the parts printed using 3D is major associated with the manufacturing
time, cost of materials and labor. Comparing this with the injection molding 3D printing can be
quite expensive. Considering the two approaches 3D printing is less price competitive compared
to injection molding. The graph below further explains this cost concept about the two
approaches. It shows unit cost relatively for using both injection molding and 3D printing in
producing the same part. The assumption of this is that the cost of a mold is $10000 and adding
$0.20 of cost of material for each unit molded and unit cost for printed part is $20 for any
volume run.

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interpretation of this graph is that the cost of printing each part using 3D remains the same all
through no matter the number of parts printed. The upfront cost of injection molding might have
been high, $10000, before other units are produced. Then from there each unit produced will cost
$0.20. From this graph, therefore, we can ascertain that if you are producing more than 500 units
then injection molding would be the best choice over 3D printing.
Other Considerations
Apart from order volume and unit cost, there exist other factors that need to be considered when
selecting either injection molding or 3D printing. They include;
Complexity – depending on the complexity of the part to be produced, if the part has edges
which is ultra-shape or is organically shaped, this will be considered in choosing the technology
or approach to use. Basically, you should go for that model that gives you the best solution of
your design at a cheaper price. 3D printing wins if the creative thinking or complexity of the part
is organically shaped. Injection molding wins for when considering hard engineering constraints.
(Siderits & Neyman, 2014).

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Production Time – depending on the urgency of a part, then a manufacturer should choose the
approach that meets the time frame. One should always consider he number of steps involved in
production and delivery time before opting for an approach.
Impacts of 3D printing to Traditional Manufacturing
3D is considered a digital manufacturing and thus brings with it some automation of processes
that were not with the traditional model of manufacturing. There will be reduction of jobs that
will affect the economy that rely on manufacturing firms to employ its citizens.
Also it will affect the ethical set ups of the society do to violation of Copyrights. With 3D
printing, one can easily produce counterfeit product if s/he gets hold of the blueprint. It will
become more habitual and tracing the source is almost impossible. Protecting copyrights will be
hard task for the copyright holders and businesses manufacturing unique commodities. Also 3D
will aid in creation of dangerous items such as guns, hazardous objects, plastic knives among
others. For this case insecurity setup of the society will be greatly affected because such items
will be easily accessible to anyone and makes it easier for criminals and terrorist to develop a
dangerous weapon without being detected. (Abadjieva, Abadjiev & Ignatova, 2016)
Conclusion
Low-volume production of 3D printing is constantly developing as well as the industry
capabilities. Manufacturing of low volume minimizes risk, allows flexibility of design,
minimizes time for marketing, and provide opportunities to save cost of production. This is an
industry that is fast-paced and will constantly offer benefits for established and new companies.

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References List
ABADJIEVA, E., ABADJIEV, V. & IGNATOVA, D., 2016. 3D Software Technology,
Applicable in Elaboration of the Spatial Face Gear Drives for Incorporation into Robot Systems..
World Journal of Engineering and Technology, Volume 4, pp. 91-99.
BARNATT, C., 2013. 3D printing: the next industrial revolution. [Place of publication not
identified]: ExplainingTheFuture.com.
GIBSON, I., ROSEN, D. & STUCKER, B., 2015. Additive manufacturing technologies: 3D
printing, rapid prototyping, and direct digital manufacturing. s.l.:s.n.
HORVATH, J. C., 2014. Mastering 3D printing. Berkeley, CA: Apress.
KOCOVIC, P., 2017. 3D printing and its impact on the production of fully functional
components: emerging research and opportunities.. Hershey, PA: Engineering Science
Reference.
ROEBUCK, K., 2011. 3d printing.. [Place of publication not identified]: Emereo Pty. Ltd..
SEGERMAN, H., 2016. Visualizing mathematics with 3D printing.. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins
University Press.
SIDERITS, R. & NEYMAN, G., 2014. Experimental 3D Printed 4-Port Ventilator Manifold for
Potential Use in Disaster Surges.. Open Journal of Emergency Medicine, Volume 2, pp. 46-48..
ŠRAMKA, M. & RUŽICKÝ, E., 2016. Possibilities in 3D Printing by Radiosurgical Operations..
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,, Volume 4, pp. 18-22.
TUCKER, K. et al., 2014. Network Based Technology Roadmapping for Future Markets: Case
of 3D Printing.. Technology and Investment, Volume 5, pp. 137-156..