It is no secret that 3D printing is set to change the manufacturing industry. Jack Hornick, an intellectual property attorney and author of 3D Printing Will Rock the World, a suggested textbook for "The 3D Printing Revolution" Coursera course offered by the University of Illinois Champagne-Urbana.

When people started using 3D printing, the process cost more. As they learned how to do it better and to apply the technology to various industrial uses, the opportunity arose to tap into its potential beyond customisation for a single use. As it becomes more integrated into manufacturing, the costs of the machines come down, so the overall costs come down, as well.

Among the ways that 3D printing contributes to efficiency is in the development of parts that are fully functional and lighter than their traditionally produced counterparts. That has been a particular boon to companies like GE, Boeing, and Airbus who use 3D printing to reduce weight of parts used in the aerospace industry, Hornick said. Some car manufacturers are also looking into the possibilities of using 3D printing because lighter parts translate into less weight and less of drain on fuel.

But that's efficiency in terms of the product used. 3D printing itself can result in less energy expended over the supply chain. It's believed tjat 3D printing has potential to save energy in three basic ways:

1.It uses less material, which translates into using less energy. Another terms for 3D printing is additive manufacture. As the items is built up by adding material layer by layer, the material is used much more efficiently. In contrast, subtractive processes, like milling, can remove 80 to 90% of the original material in the course of formation of the desired shape. As 3D printing allows for "topologically optimised design," it can be set up to have material "only where you need it," for "less material in the build process," Hornick said.

2.One machine consumes less energy than multiple machines. In traditional manufacturing, it is possible for ten different machines to be used in the course of manufacturing something made from component parts. The ability to make the entire product on a single 3D printing machine can save a great deal of energy.

3.In 3D printing, it's possible to produce things either right on the spot or very close to where they are to be used. That enables things to be made on the spot and on demand, both of which save energy. Without having to ship parts from far away, the energy needed for long distance transportation is saved. Also not having to keep items in stock to have them on hand when they will be needed saves energy consumed in warehousing.

By: DocMemory
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