6. September 2021
Lower costs and less waste with additively manufactured products
3D printing enables customized, complex component design and is taking its place in tooling and fixture manufacturing as well as in medical technology and transportation. Simon Dursch, Technical Manager 3D Printing at CINTEG AG in Göppingen, lists some of the advantages of additive technology and reveals the trade show highlights his company will be bringing to Stuttgart for Motek/Bondexpo 2021.
3D printing has already conquered quite a few production areas. Please tell us some aspects that illustrate the advantages of 3D printing:
- Big time and cost savings in tooling thanks to on-demand 3D printing: Tools and fixtures are special components developed by the manufacturing engineer to solve specific problems in the factory. 3D-printed tools can be replaced after just a few hours instead of days, and today’s high-performance plastics are tough, lightweight and far more cost-effective.
- Shortened time to market: 3D printing can help meet increasing consumer demand for new products faster by shortening time to market. In 3D printing, designers develop their ideas using CAD software. These designs are then 3D printed to create functional prototypes. Engineers and designers can then use these 3D-printed models to evaluate the design and test the functions. This procedure takes only a short time compared to traditional methods.
- Waste prevention through additive manufacturing: In the automotive industry, many components are manufactured using CNC machining processes. In the process also known as machining, components are cut out of a solid aluminum or steel block. The biggest problem with this type of manufacturing process is the waste produced during the process. Metal chips must be collected, cleaned and recycled at a cost in time and money. The 3D printing process eliminates much of this cleaning work.
- Better quality of life through customized one-offs: 3D printing is having a huge impact on people who need artificial limbs. Prostheses are complex, sophisticated systems designed to replace human body parts. Individual products must be customized to each patient in order to function effectively. 3D printing is revolutionizing the process of designing and manufacturing artificial limbs because it allows them to be fully customized.
- Weight savings through complex component design: Aerospace companies are always looking for new ways to make aircraft lighter. With every gram saved, more passengers or cargo can be transported. But maintaining the strength and stability of the aircraft is essential. Designers often resort to complex matrix designs to achieve this. However, these components are difficult to manufacture using conventional machining techniques. This is where 3D printing is the perfect solution for manufacturing these complex components.
Which industries are benefiting particularly from 3D printing technology?
- Mechanical engineering and automation
- Automotive industry
- Aerospace
- Consumer Goods
- Dentistry
- Medicine
- Education
- Bus and rail industry
- Art and Fashion
What are the technological obstacles to be overcome in the further development of 3D printing?
- 3D Printing Accuracy
- 3D printing speed
- Lack of knowledge/education for 3D printing-ready design
- Missing or insufficient material properties
Which target group do you specifically address with your company?
3D printing is very versatile. In principle, we address all target groups from the above-mentioned industries – regardless of whether they are large or small companies. 3D printing offers an extremely large portfolio of solutions with numerous possible applications.
With which trade show highlight will you come to the “Special Show 3D” during Motek/Bondexpo 2021 in Stuttgart?
- 3D printer in live operation
- Reverse engineering
- 3D scanner
- Full color 3D printing
