Why machine builders should use 3D printing

If you are a machine builder you may have heard about 3D printing, the rapid prototyping technology that enables models to be manufactured quickly and cost-effectively, typically for assessing a design's physical form. Some machines are capable of creating monochrome models while others can create full-colour models. But you may be wondering how this technology can be of use in the design and development of machinery.

Of course the answer to this question rather depends on the type of machinery on which you are working, but there are plenty of diverse applications for 3D printing and you may come up with alternatives beyond those outlined below.

Companies tendering for high-value projects, for which an amount of up-front design effort is required, are finding that either exterior models or cutaway models can be powerful tools for presentations, especially after the 'show' is over and the PowerPoint slides are no longer being projected onto a screen. A physical model can provide long-lasting and tactile impact that can be more persuasive than graphics, especially for non-technical decision-makers.

Another application for 3D printing is in verification. While the technology can certainly be used to check the form and fit of components, it is also helpful when multiple designs are being assessed. Remember that today's 3D printers can output a model - or a set of variations on a single design theme - within an hour or so, which makes this type of application far more feasible than modelling techniques that have to be left to run overnight or subcontracted to a bureau for delivery within several days. And it means that one machine can serve several designers, with minimal risk of the machine being unavailable for extended periods due to heavy demand. Furthermore, the cost per cubic centimetre of fused model is much lower today. Taken together, these points mean that models can be printed when required, not just when they can be justified.

The bigger picture

In some cases, perhaps where several linked machines are being installed, it can be beneficial to create a 3D printed model of the entire layout, including any relevant features in the factory such as support columns. This can help the installation and commissioning process run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. It is also possible to model piping runs to ensure that there are no clashes.

With colour 3D printing machines the possibilities are extended even further. Colours can be used to indicate different materials, processes or to highlight cut faces in cutaway models. Furthermore, software enables 'labels' to wrapped around a model so that, for example, a model can be printed with instructions marked on the side to eliminate ambiguities relating to orientation, tolerances, surface finishes or so on. If different tolerances are required for machined features, these can be colour coded and labelled. Note that colouring and labelling can typically be carried out using intuitive software supplied with the printer, so users do not have to be experts in CAD or solid modelling in order to create enhanced physical models.

If a machine is being developed for assembling a component with a complex form, it may be desirable - and wise - to use a 3D printer to create a model of the proposed nest design and check the fit before committing to the expense of having multiple nests machined from steel. And if a complex mechanism is being designed, a full-size or over-sized model could be printed to check the operation.

Colour for communication

If designers are using tools such as finite element analysis to verify a component's performance, a 2D printed model can be created for use in presentations, brainstorming sessions or other environments where a physical model is more appropriate than documents or a 3D model manipulated on a computer screen.

As was suggested above, the true potential for 3D printing is limited only by a designer's imagination. The cost of a 3D printer depends on various parameters, such as the build envelope, whether the machine prints in colour or monochrome, and the speed, but prices start from under 20,000. Of course, machine builders nervous about purchasing a 3D printer of their own can initially make use of the bureau services that are available available.

Follow the link to find out more about the Z Corporation range of 3D printers or read about the company's latest product, the affordable, fast and easy-to-use ZPrinter 350.