For the tech geeks out there, you will know that the annual technology spectacular has been held in Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). I have been watching the coverage on YouTube all week and there really is some staggering technology set to go mainstream this year. But one thing lacking from this year’s event is coverage about 3D printing. Which got me to thinking, if 3D printing is capable of printing pretty much anything, could our industry put it to some use?
I asked the question on Twitter to see what other companies thought and it turns out that a lot of manufacturers are already using them to create prototypes. But the feedback was that the machines were a big expense at first and that from a mass production perspective, it wasn’t cost effective right now to start making component on mass using a 3D printer.
However, this technology is very new and just as with all other technologies, as it becomes more developed and more widely used, the cost will come down. A lot of tech enthusiasts are actually predicting that 2014 will be the year where 3D printers start to make it into people’s homes. If this happens, then I think that the doors could start to open for 3D printed components made on a larger scale.
Costs need to come down first though. If they do, and manufacturers can invest in an array of machines instead of just one, then that opens up more opportunities. The initial thoughts at the moment is that 3D printing remains too expensive for mass producing components for the window industry. But I honestly do believe that 3D printing could usher in a new age of British made components, bringing back manufacturing to these shores and strengthening our British companies further. It’s going to be a long process, but I do think there is a lot of potential in it.
What do you think? Will 3D printing always remain too expensive and limit what can actually be made? Or do you think 3D printing will change the way all things are made? All comments welcome in the section below.
Dgb. If my memory serves me right Dan Gill from Window Widgets used this technology back in 2007 when he produced models of Bay Pole sections and an ultra low Alli Thresher for a couple of projects at the time. Awesome to have actual size models of the cad drawings.
Thanks Andy. I’ve given DGB my thoughts on Twitter but he’s gone ahead with this blog anyway. I can sell you cockspur wedges at £25 each. Any takers? The price won’t ever get anywhere near. I had a guy telling me they would make extrusion tools with it this year and it would take over from Greiner quality. Sent him on his way too.
I have 3D printing, extrusion, vacuum forming, injection moulding, CNC machining, lamination and general facrication all in house. 3D printing is a country mile off!
Hi Dan
I take your opinions on board fully and I do appreciate the fact that you have used 3D printing. But my position on this is that in the medium term I do still think 3D printing will have an edge over traditional production, take a look at this article, it makes my point a bit better than I do: http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/at-work/innovation/ces-2014-trends-the-3-d-printing-industry-is-poised-to-explode
Regards
DGB
Yep. Seen all this before. I’ve been to all the shows. Seen all the reps and use the technology daily. The ink is £275 a cartridge, tray £10.25, a model takes hours. Operators are highly skilled. The best technology requires massive investment, big maintenance contracts, expensive consumables and cannot run more than a small tray without manual intervention. It’s press hype. Will never be cheaper than a CNC large or injection moulding machine which run unmanned and make components in seconds costing pence.
i agree with you Dan. A CNC production will always be cheaper than 3D printing for windows and doors (at least until some huge breakthrough will happen with the 3D technology)
Personally I see the only place for 3d printing in the industry is as a very minor sales and marketing tool allowing a customer to hold a scale model of a conservatory in their hands. Although quite unnecessary it would be another thing that sets a rep apart from the competition…. Until it became common and everyone did it.