3D printers have various applications. 3D printing is an excellent alternative for injection molding and other traditional manufacturing methods. It enables part manufacturing without material loss, and with miniFactory Ultra, the benefits of high-performance polymers can be utilized. Take a look at the most common 3D printer applications below.
With 3D printing, you can prototype faster and more cost-effectively than before. As the process stays in-house, the parts designed today can be tested tomorrow. This speeds up the revisioning of the prototypes as well as the development. Prototypes can also be more geometrically complex than ever before due to the 3D printing process.
Piloting can be done when the prototypes have met their goals. With the high-performance polymers, you can do the piloting and proper testing using the 3D printed parts because the properties of the materials meet the needs of the applications. For example, suitable materials together with 3D printing can improve the strength-to-weight ratio dramatically.
When the piloting of the 3D printed product has been approved, you can start serial production. Since the manufacturing process follows the same method and material as in the piloting phase, the process is fast and straightforward. This cuts down the ramp-up time from piloting to the end-use part production, enabling the manufacturing to start earlier.
3D printing provides the possibility to manufacture spare parts individually or in small series. It is a cost-effective method as the part can be manufactured directly to where needed. By utilizing 3D printing, there is no need to keep large quantities of spare parts in storage or wait for the delivery of the parts. Since you can manufacture the spare parts where and when needed, you reduce the lead time by up to 90% compared to traditional methods.
With miniFactory ultra, each part can be customized and manufactured effortlessly. You can quickly make several different versions of the same component during the printing process by adjusting the 3D printer settings. Furthermore, the Aarni Process Monitoring System gives you a unique report for each custom part to see the part's manufacturing process and materials. This lets you easily compare the components and see how different materials or print profiles affect the printed part.
3D printing of high-performance polymers offers an advanced manufacturing method for high-temperature, low-volume composite lay-up and repair tools. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing has the advantage of low production cost and fast manufacturing time. In addition, due to 3D printing, the parts can be very complex.
With miniFactory ultra, you can manufacture heat resistance (up to 250°C) tools and fixtures for production and assemblies rapidly to meet the needs of the processes. This improves production efficiency and ensures a safer and more ergonomic working environment for the assembly employees.
3D printing makes it possible to lighten parts by utilizing various internal structures. For example, the component may have a solid outer surface but still has a 50% honeycomb structure inside the body. Due to the structure, the part doesn't just become light but also has optimized strength. Furthermore, the inner shapes can be designed freely because parts production is based on the addition of material.
Using miniFactory Ultra, you can integrate various features inside parts printed with FFF technology. For example, placing multiple inserts, sensors, or reinforcements inside the part during the printing process is possible. Then, as the piece is finished, these features become an integral part of the final product to be manufactured.
3D printing makes it easy to make diverse geometries of pieces. For example, parts may have internal channels, bushings, or other shapes that do not affect the cost of manufacturing the part. This allows you to combine different functionalities into one component or create shapes that are impossible to implement with other methods.
Validation
miniFactory Ultra offers the perfect platform for additive manufacturing material development. It gives the researchers free hands to tweak specific parameters and provides competent properties such as a 250°C chamber and the possibility to monitor the process precisely with Aarni – Process monitoring system.
