3D Printing Applications
3D Printed and Additive Manufactured (FDM and SLA) Parts Have a Wide Range of Uses
- Proof of Concept
- Prototype Parts
- Form Fit and Function Testing
- Manufacturing and Assembly Tools
- Work-Holding and Machining Fixtures
- Jigs and Tooling
- Production Parts
Proof of Concept
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing provide never-before-possible abilities to achieve accurate and usable parts to prove out a concept. Whether it is a new product or a re-design of an existing product, tool or part, this is the best and most trustworthy way to verify and test your concept.
Prototype Parts
Additive manufacturing offers a rapid and relatively inexpensive method of proving out your design and testing for form, fit and function. With the wide range of materials that we offer your parts will be robust enough to assemble and put into use, thereby allowing you to prove out your designs and determine where changes are necessary. And this can be done with a material that is close to the target molded product. Obviously, it is of the utmost importance to do this before moving forward with tooling and production.
Manufacturing and Assembly Tools / Work-Holding Fixtures
It may surprise you to learn that 3d printed and additive manufactured (FDM and SLA) parts are accurate and robust enough to be used as fixtures and jigs and tooling for assembly and machining. Also, the FDM and SLA parts themselves can be machined and tapped for added flexibility and accuracy in your work-holding fixtures. The 3D printed part can be simply designed to conform to the CAD model of the desired finish part with holding features added in. This is especially nice for parts with complex surfaces that will be difficult or impossible to hold without a fixture. As mentioned, the 3d printed parts can then be drilled, tapped, machined etc. in order to achieve a cost effective and quick fixturing method. This way you are using your machining center to work on your production parts and not making fixtures - let additive manufacturing do that for you!
The same holds true for assembly; the AM (additive manufactured) parts can be designed to hold two or more parts in position for assembly, fastener applications, gluing/bonding, etc
Possibly the most crucial benefit of this technique is that complex work-holding jigs and fixtures can be created with undercuts and cavities and other features that may be extremely difficult (or even impossible) to create with traditional manufacturing methods. With 3d printing, If you can conceive it, the technology can produce it!! And it’s done within days and shipped to your door while you spend your valuable time working on your products. Now THAT is a benefit.
As it happens, tooling and fixture design is a specialty of ours here at 3D Rapid Parts - just call us up or send an email and tell us what your tooling requirements are and let us design and produce a custom work-holding jig or fixture to your specifications!
The same holds true for assembly; the AM (additive manufactured) parts can be designed to hold two or more parts in position for assembly, fastener applications, gluing/bonding, etc
Possibly the most crucial benefit of this technique is that complex work-holding jigs and fixtures can be created with undercuts and cavities and other features that may be extremely difficult (or even impossible) to create with traditional manufacturing methods. With 3d printing, If you can conceive it, the technology can produce it!! And it’s done within days and shipped to your door while you spend your valuable time working on your products. Now THAT is a benefit.
As it happens, tooling and fixture design is a specialty of ours here at 3D Rapid Parts - just call us up or send an email and tell us what your tooling requirements are and let us design and produce a custom work-holding jig or fixture to your specifications!
Production Parts
More and more companies are producing their final products and parts via additive manufacturing. The range of materials that we offer make this a real possibility for many parts, especially parts and products whose low volumes makes the production of an expensive tool end up a financial loss. This technique is referred to as "digital manufacturing" or "direct digital manufacturing" (DDM).
The benefits can be enormous when using additive manufacturing to produce your final products and parts.
In addition to savings on tooling, another huge benefit is that you can make changes to your parts as often as required. Have you ever tried to make a change to a part that is already in production via a molding tool? That is expensive and time-consuming. Sometimes it is even impossible and requires a new mold or tooling to be made.
Customized and one-off parts and variations of parts are also much easier to produce via this method.
The benefits can be enormous when using additive manufacturing to produce your final products and parts.
In addition to savings on tooling, another huge benefit is that you can make changes to your parts as often as required. Have you ever tried to make a change to a part that is already in production via a molding tool? That is expensive and time-consuming. Sometimes it is even impossible and requires a new mold or tooling to be made.
Customized and one-off parts and variations of parts are also much easier to produce via this method.
