An Introduction to 3D Printing - whateverittakes.com

1 A whitepaper provided by pii September 2015 The Power of Personalization HeadquartersOne Hardman Drive Bloomington, IL is a registered ISO 9001 2015An Introduction to 3D PrintingPompano Beach, FL Lansing, MI Tianjin, China Tamil Nadu, India Cebu City, PhilippinesMakerbot has sold 44,000+ home 3D printers since the company s inception. Source: MakerBot What is 3D Printing and how does it work?3D Printing , also known as additive manufacturing, was developed in the 1980 s as a process used to make three-dimensional objects. Additive manufacturing creates parts from the ground up by fusing together layers of material. Its counterpart, subtractive manufacturing, begins with material and removes excess until only the desired shape There are several methods of 3D Printing .

2 The most commonly recognized is called Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). This method uses a single nozzle head to extrude melted material, typically plastic, layer by layer onto a build platform according to the 3D data that has been supplied to the printer. One of the most familiar printers in this space, the MakerBot, uses the FDM method. Other 3D Printing processes, like Stereolithography (SLA), fuses together liquid material by curing it with a UV laser; while Binder Jetting fuses together powder material with a binding spray. Today, these methods are still more expensive and specialized than MaterialsThe materials used in 3D Printing are often dependent on the method.

3 Binder Jetting for instance, might use sandstone material, while SLA and FDM typically use plastic or resin. But what was once a small list of printable materials has been rapidly expanding. Plastics today include stronger substances Nozzle depositing larger message and strategy they can often feel random and one-off. 3D printed products should deliver and support the strategic marketing messages of the organization in order to be relevant and Printing is more than a manufacturing processInstead of replacing a current process or product with 3D Printing , take advantage of what the technology does best. 3D Printing truly shines when it s focused on providing greater tangibility, increased complexity, hyper personalization, or speed.

4 Leverage 3D Printing to do more for you by focusing on its unique benefits in order to enhance or offer something new to 3D Printing a lasting purposeSimilar to other new technologies, the novelty and buzz around 3D Printing will eventually stabilize. Ensure your 3D Printing strategy aligns with the benefits consumers are seeking, not just the spectacle. 3D Printing works for prototyping because it supports decision- making so well, a very real benefit to anyone testing out an idea before it becomes real. Realizing this deeper purpose will drive your offerings and help you utilize the technology in a meaningful : A key challenge in 3D Printing is creating the file in the right format for print without 3D modeling skills.

5 Today the ability to build files is a specialized skill of engineers and designers. Software companies like AutoCAD are building intuitive software to make 3D file design and creation accessible to everyone. Programs like Tinkercad by AutoCAD are leveraging intuitive features like drag and : As more companies create and evolve the 3D printer, the technology continues to become cheaper and better in quality. The average cost of a home 3D printer ranges from $500-$2500. At an enterprise level multiple models are available ranging in level of fidelity and can you leverage 3D Printing ?3D Printing is a tool to support your marketing strategy, not the strategy itself3D Printing is simply one more tool in the toolbox to help you execute on your marketing strategy.

6 Companies often see 3D printed goods as the solution to reaching more customers and engaging them more deeply. If the goods are not connected to Sources 1 3D Printing Processes: The Free Beginners Guide. 3D Printing Industry, May 2014. Overview Over 3D Printing Technologies. Additively, Plafke, James. McDonalds Wants A 3D Printer In Every Restaurant So They Can Print Happy Meal Toys. Geek, November 9 Wapner, Charlie. Progress In The Making: 3D Printing Policy Considerations Through The Library Lens. American Library Association, Number 3, January McCue, TJ. 3D Printing In The Home: 1 In 3 Americans Ready For 3D Printer. Forbes, March 19 2014.

7 5 3D Printing market to grow to US$ billion in 2018. Canalys Press Release. March 20146 3D Printing Facts & Forecasts Siemens 2014 Makerbot at CES 2014 nylon, as well as biodegradable plastic. Paper, ceramics, and metals are growing in popularity and helping to expand applications for 3D Printing . Most recently on the scene are food materials like chocolate, sugar and even meat. Steps of 3D PrintingIt s important to note that the process of 3D Printing has many steps and is not as automated as some might think. From file preparation ( , creation, conversion), to actual Printing , to the finishing work post-print ( , sanding, coating, removing support material), the output of 3D Printing takes time.

8 However, open source file sharing on sites like Thingiverse and GrabCAD are making it faster for designers to get is it being used today and what are the benefits?Big strides in both printer technology and material exploration have led to a variety of exciting applications across industries. In fields like design and architecture, 3D Printing has long played a role in model and prototype creation. But more and more it is being used to produce end-products like jewelry, sculptures, and shoes. Thanks to advances in 3D printed metal, automotive companies are now looking at the potential of 3D Printing to fulfill after-sale parts on demand, rather than holding large inventories.

9 As an early adopter of 3D Printing for product development and prototyping, the aerospace industry is following suit, now experimenting with non-critical part production. In the marketing industry 3D Printing is being used in both playful and functional ways. Barilla recently challenged customers to design a unique 3D pasta design, while McDonald s is rumored to be creating a 3D Printing toys kiosk to print on-demand Happy Meal Printing processDESIGNFILEPROCESSINGPRODUCTIONFIN ISHINGSOCIALIZINGC reate the 3D part file for print from scratch, a digital scan or from a base file that was the file ready for the 3D printer by slicing it using programs either installed locally or available in the technologies are used that vary in Printing speed, accuracy, durability.

10 Finish quality and cost of materials being variety of methods are used to give the part a final finish so that it is aesthetically pleasing but also more files, renderings or photos of physical parts can be shared in social media outlets or free s 3D pasta design competition. Source: BarillaConsumer benefitsCompanies are not the only ones experimenting with 3D Printing . As the technology moves from maker to mainstream, more and more people are playing with it at work, at school and at the library. According to OITP Perspectives, a publication by the American Library Association, more than 250 libraries in the offer the use of 3D printers to Home use is growing as well.