Would Your Business Benefit From A 3D Printer?
Posted on: 12 November 2015
3D printing has been around for decades, but it has exploded in recent years. The benefit of these printers for industry is clear. Product prototypes can quickly and accurately be created right in the office. Now that 3D printers are more affordable and often available for rent or lease, you can use them for applications in your own small business.
Process
3D printers are "additive" machines. They print by adding layers of different materials to your design. These machines can currently print in dozens of different materials. When a 3D printer file is sent to the printer, it begins to apply multiple layers of paper, liquid, powder, or other substance to build a model. You can develop any design of item in endless shapes and configurations from your office or even home. Instead of buying some replacement parts, you may be able to create them yourself.
Wide Application
Industry has long made use of this technology, but many smaller businesses are now using it. Automobile dealerships can use the technology to save an image of customers' keys so they can print new ones on a moment's notice if necessary. Jewelry stores can create custom designs for their customers right on the premises. A company that specialized in invisible braces learned how to produce them on a 3D printer, making batches more quickly than their previous milling process could and with less trouble. NASA is planning to send 3D printers into space so that astronauts can print the equipment that they need.
Saving Money
The process can help you save money. Developing prototypes in the traditional way is quite expensive. When your employees can create tools or necessary parts by using the 3D printer, your business saves time and money. Also, by actually developing a model on your own, you can tell if it is really going to work. That benefit prevents you from investing in a project that cannot work. If your idea is a loser, you know before you have wasted a significant amount of money.
The cost of 3D printers has come down in recent years so that you should be able to bear the cost of buying or leasing one. They are truly amazing machines that makes designing and implementing products a possibility for even small businesses. In fact, some people use them at home to work on their own creative visions. If you have a great idea for a new product, you can have a prototype in hand in a matter of hours. Contact a local rental company, such as Office Products Services, for further assistance.
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