Additive manufacturing is a relatively new concept that covers the various production processes used to make solid or three-dimensional objects from digital designs created beforehand. It includes, for example, 3D printers, which are increasingly sought after.
Additive manufacturing is based on rapid prototyping, that is, building up a material layer by layer. It can produce any desired part in a specific material, whether plastic, metal, concrete or even edible materials. One advantage of 3D printing is its virtually unlimited range of possibilities, and it far exceeds the limitations that have existed until now in industrial manufacturing.
Some experts even speak of a fourth industrial revolution that could benefit very different economic sectors. Although its market share is still small, its growth potential is practically incalculable.
Possible applications of additive manufacturing include aerospace, defence and automotive materials. It can also be used to produce items for the medical sector and various consumer goods such as instruments or electronic devices. The freedom of design and production is very broad, and it is likely to be applied to many more industries and sectors in the future.
Below you will find the benefits of additive manufacturing, its advantages and disadvantages, and the different 3D manufacturing methods.
Benefits of additive manufacturing, the new industrial revolution
Additive manufacturing brings a number of production benefits. There is no industrial revolution without a set of factors that make the production process much easier and, above all, cheaper. In the case of 3D printing there are several, and they also address the economic, energy and environmental challenges of today’s world. The following stand out:
Faster production
One of the most decisive factors in triggering an industrial revolution is the speed at which goods can be produced. This has already been happening as factory production has become automated. Additive manufacturing goes a step further, as it can cut the time needed to obtain a product by up to 90%.
With a faster production process, the cost per item is lower. Materials for 3D printing also tend to be cheaper.
Cost reduction
Additive manufacturing technologies digitalise the production process to a much greater extent, which leads to lower logistics costs. Combined with faster production, there is no longer any need to hold large stocks of manufacturing materials. Likewise, demand for a specific part or product can be met immediately. A company using this type of manufacturing no longer needs large storage areas, which means considerable cost savings.
Energy savings
The machinery used for 3D manufacturing consumes less energy. The products made have a lower mass, so producing them is simpler and cheaper in energy terms. 3D printers do not consume the energy that certain heavy industrial machines do.
Sustainability
One of the advantages of additive manufacturing is that its adoption promotes the sustainable development the planet needs to tackle climate change. Energy consumption is reduced, as are transport costs, since the raw material takes up less space. In addition, some specific 3D manufacturing technologies allow primary materials to be recycled and reused, making the most of the material and generating minimal waste.
Types of additive manufacturing
There are different types of additive manufacturing processes, which have been improved and refined to offer better production profitability and practical applications for different sectors.
- One of the oldest is stereolithography, which uses liquid resins and ultraviolet light beams.
- There are also other technologies such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), which works with metal powders. These powders are first fused and then resolidified layer by layer to obtain the desired shape.
Finally, there is injection moulding, more commonly known as DLMD. It uses a base material that is melted and another material in powder form, which end up being joined together.