Digital Manufacturing evolution
3D Printing:
What is it and how can it benefit you as an
inventor or business?
Mike Vasquez, PhD
Background
Materials Science and Engineering
• B.S. and M.Eng
• 3M Fellowship
Additive Manufacturing
• Ph.D
• Developed New Materials for 3D Printing
• Burton Snowboards, EOS, U of Louisville
3D Printing and Materials Engineering
• Consult with companies on how to best
approach 3D Printing technologies
• 3D Printing Bootcamps
• Work with end users, large chemical
companies and machine manufacturers
Frequently Asked Questions?
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is 3D Printing?
How is the technology being used?
What are the challenges with 3D Printing?
Impact on Housewares Market
What is 3D Printing?
Technical Definition
Process of joining materials to make objects
from 3D model data, usually layer upon
layer as opposed to subtractive
manufacturing methodologies
Okay…but in English please
Let’s Start with 2D Printing
Digital to Physical
Now 3D Printing
Digital to Physical
Types of 3D Printing
There are seven different types
of 3D Printing
• Different building mechanisms
• Different price points
• Different materials
• Different uses
Material Extrusion (FDM)
• Most common technology
• Desktop models are widespread
Cont…
Material Jetting
• More professional
prototypes
• Multi-material
• Common in design firms
Binder Jetting
•
•
•
•
Visual Prototypes
Tooling
Investment Casting
Larger platforms
Sheet Lamination
• Reams of paper act as the base
materials
• Low strength
• Opportunities for decent
resolution color
Vat Polymerization (SLA)
• Oldest 3D Printing technology
• High resolution but relatively
low strength parts
• New desktop versions available
Powder Based System (SLS)
•
•
•
•
•
Wider range of materials
Very strength
Functional parts
Base material is powder
Still at the industrial scale
Directed Energy Deposition
• Electron Beam Melting
• Medical and Aerospace
• Metal parts
Overview of the market
•
Additive Manufacturing is currently a $2.2 billion industry worldwide.
•
Market is expected to triple by 2018 to roughly $6 billion.
– Context: Injection molding market expected to be $252 billion in 2018
•
Sales for low cost machines (<$5000) – 35,508 in 2012
•
Sales for professional machines (>$5000) – 6,494 in 2011
Data: Wohler’s Report
How do people use 3D Printing?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prototyping
Low volume manufacturing
Tooling
Consumer products
Customization + personalization
Art/design
Education
Medical
Prototyping
Low barrier to create a
physical model
– Limited risk if it fails
– Get products into the
customers hands
– Streamlined development
process
– Save money and time on
tooling
– Ability to iterate and
incorporate new feedback
Customization-Case Study
• Developed by WWII vets
• Highly visible Paralympic
sport
Challenge
• Range of abilities and no
one size fits all chair
Task
• Personalized solution to
maximize performance
Design What You Print
The Customized Outcome
3D Printed
Seat
Design Freedom
Geometric Freedom
Low Volume Manufacturing
Challenges with 3D Printing
• Limited and high cost of materials
• Unreliability of machines
– 20% reject rate
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Challenges scaling up technology
Speed
IP
Environmental Concerns
Surface finish
Resolution
Mechanical properties
Post processing
Still only making shapes
Getting started with 3D Printing
• Beginners give it a try…
– Plenty of places in the city and online
where you can see, use or order 3D
Printed parts
– Experiment with some 3D design platforms
• Advanced Users
– Have clear goals and how the
technology can fit your company’s needs
Additive manufacturing consulting
3D Printing Reports helps companies figure out how
to best approach, integrate and expand 3D Printing
technology to meet their business objectives by:
• Providing industry expertise on machine and material
selection
• Identifying novel applications and discovering ways to
improve current product development practices
• Offering in-person support and instruction for engineers,
technicians and designers
• Testing/developing new materials
• Developing frameworks to maximize R&D efficiency and
boost ROI for large scale systems
Contact Information
Mike Vasquez, PhD
mike@3dprintingreports.com
Twitter: @sportstechpod
Sign up for my best practice
newsletter at:
www.3dprintingreports.com