4 ms·

Open discussion: 3D printing end use parts

2 points by dclin31 3y ago

Open discussion about what you think is holding back 3d printing in end use parts. Is it that we don't have the design tools to leverage its advantages in complexity and ability create unique objects? Or is it just inherently limited. Seems not too long ago we were promised a Star Trek replicator in every home. I'm of the opinion that our design tools haven't fully caught up yet and can't leverage personalized production. Just look at existing sites like Printables...imagine if those models were adaptable to what you need even if you don't CAD.

jqpabc123 3y ago
One big drawback with FDM (fused deposition modeling) parts is strength. Another is obviously surface smoothness. A third issue is production time/speed. The layers in a 3D printed part are not fused together as well as resin cast parts and tend to separate and fail under some "end use" conditions. Smoothness can be a concern too for some "end use" conditions. And 3D printing for volume production is just plain slow --- at least a couple of orders of magnitude slower than casting. Bottom line --- ok for quick prototypes but 3D printing has some fundamental limitations making it questionable for a lot of "end use" products.
- dclin31 3y ago
  I handled a couple MJF and SLS prints and was quite impressed by the material properties. Definitely end usable, though I still wouldn't trust it 100% in critical components. There's an argument for trading off speed for "fit" kind of like going to a tailor vs walking out with a store bought pair of trousers that these technologies are approaching viability.
  - jqpabc123 3y ago
    I still wouldn't trust it 100% in critical components. Testing is better than trusting. Those who have tested tend to show fairly broad agreement that 3D printed parts exhibit a lower baseline tensile strength than molded parts. How much lower depends on a multitude of printing factors so there is an element of inconsistency here as well.

2 points by dclin31 3y ago

jqpabc123 3y ago

One big drawback with FDM (fused deposition modeling) parts is strength. Another is obviously surface smoothness. A third issue is production time/speed. The layers in a 3D printed part are not fused together as well as resin cast parts and tend to separate and fail under some "end use" conditions. Smoothness can be a concern too for some "end use" conditions. And 3D printing for volume production is just plain slow --- at least a couple of orders of magnitude slower than casting. Bottom line --- ok for quick prototypes but 3D printing has some fundamental limitations making it questionable for a lot of "end use" products.

dclin31 3y ago
I handled a couple MJF and SLS prints and was quite impressed by the material properties. Definitely end usable, though I still wouldn't trust it 100% in critical components. There's an argument for trading off speed for "fit" kind of like going to a tailor vs walking out with a store bought pair of trousers that these technologies are approaching viability.
- jqpabc123 3y ago
  I still wouldn't trust it 100% in critical components. Testing is better than trusting. Those who have tested tend to show fairly broad agreement that 3D printed parts exhibit a lower baseline tensile strength than molded parts. How much lower depends on a multitude of printing factors so there is an element of inconsistency here as well.