As this new technological era starts to develop it is becoming more evident that 3D Printing is becoming a hot topic. This naturally raises a few eye brows as it is so new and people generally are not aware of what can be done using this method of additive manufacturing.
Why is it called additive manufacturing I hear you ask? Well traditional manufacturing machining methods are typically subtractive manufacturing i.e. material is removed from a block of stock material, which is then usually thrown away and the finished part remains. Additive manufacturing is therefore the opposite of this method. Material is added from a source material, which can be on a spool, a powder etc. Using whatever method of 3D printing the machine is designed for you end up with a finished part.
The complex issues arise when you start to then consider the part for end use. I now ask you the question...If you had a structural part presented to you made from metal and one 3D printed from plastic combined with continuous carbon fibres, which one are you likely to say will do the job required?? My guess is the metallic one. In some cases, you wouldnt be wrong, however, using our Markforged composite printer we have been able to produce items for companies and individuals that have replaced metal originals.
We have conducted testing on our parts and found a small chain link only 40mm x 20mm x 8mm capable of withstanding 8 tonne in a tensile direction!
3D printing can take some time to complete prints especially those of a larger size, however if the item has a complex geometry, traditional methods can prove very costly and time consuming when compared to printing that same item. 3D printing does not often discriminate on geometry therefore making it brilliant for designers as they can now go wild on creative design ideas.
I could go on and on about 3D printing as it is such a new and exciting technology that will surely grip the world in the near future, however we will leave some more topics on 3D printing for another post.
In conclusion to the original question, yes! Absolutely! 3D printing has came on leaps and bounds recently and now highly advanced metal 3D printers are making metal parts but with time and cost saving incorporated into their new designs that 3D printing allows. These machines are expensive, however as mentioned, composite printing allows plastic parts to be made with the equivalent strengths to that of metals for a much lesser cost but with all the same benefits.
With that said, thanks for taking the time to read into this post. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to share them here or get in touch with us.
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