3D printing is an extremely versatile form of manufacturing, providing accessible and convenient production for all experience levels, fields of work, and ideas. Whether you’re developing new inventions regularly and need a fast & cost-effective way of bringing your ideas to life, or are looking for the best way to bring your product to the market, 3D printing has to be considered.
But can 3D printing be reliable, consistent, and high-quality enough for your use? It depends.
Is 3D Printing Reliable Enough For You?
3D printing is a manufacturing process that involves a lot of factors, which can affect whether it’s a reliable solution for you. From the machine type to the precision of the machine to the material you use, certain implementations of 3D printing may not meet your needs.
Intended use is perhaps the most important factor to consider because it determines what level of accuracy, capability, and budget is acceptable for implementing your design. For rough prototypes where build quality is not the most important factor, almost all 3D printing options will be able to meet your needs. But if you’re creating something that requires perfect precision due to its intended use being mechanical or functional in some way, lower-quality machines may cause problems due to small inconsistencies relating to material, environment, improper cooling, and the machine’s precision ability itself.
Inconsistencies can also be an issue for smaller-scale objects with tighter tolerances, which require advanced precision that may surpass some printing types and machine’s capabilities. This becomes even worse when switching between materials or using different machines to create multiple parts at once, causing issues when it comes to larger-scale manufacturing runs.
But, if you’re printing personally, using larger-scale models with a higher tolerance, or using the same high-quality machine, 3D printing should reliably produce your next project.
