Description: Learn all about industrial 3D printing and how it compares to desktop 3D printing in this guide.
Intro
The world of 3D printing is becoming more popular every day. Today, industrial and residential applications are becoming more prevalent. We put together this guide to help you better understand why people and businesses are gravitating towards this technology.
In the following sections, we’ll introduce these printers, what they are, explain the major benefits, and determine whether or not one of these printers is right for you.
Introducing 3D Printers
3D printers give people a quick and easy way to make a product. The process consists of loading a 3D CAD model into a printer and getting a physical unit as a result.
3D printers can take a variety of shapes and sizes, and they have different functionality. The most popular is an FDM printer, which extrudes hot material from a nozzle. The nozzle will move in the XY plane. It completes one “slice” of the part before the nozzle moves up and produces the next “slice.”
After enough time, you’re left with a completed part that was built layer by layer.
This process will only work for materials that have a low enough melting temperature for the printer’s hot end.
If you want to produce items out of metal, FDM should not be considered. Instead, you should choose a printer that sinters metal powder. The process works similarly in that the part is built by each layer, but the medium is completely different.
What Is an Industrial 3D Printer?
In our quick explanation, you were exposed to two different versions of 3D printing. The same is true as you compare industrial and desktop 3D printers.
As the name suggests, an industrial 3D printer is primarily used in industrial facilities that manufacture products. The technology is versatile and can be used across industries.
These units are a lot larger as well and often require high-voltage hookups. They’re almost exclusively used in businesses, not homes.
Industrial 3D printers offer higher durability, the ability to make larger parts, and the option to print metal units. They also come with a more expensive upfront and operating cost over desktop units.
An industrial 3D printer can be used as an alternative to traditional machining and assembling a part. Instead, the whole fabrication process occurs within the 3D printer.
Major Benefits of Industrial 3D Printers
For companies willing to spend money on one of these printers, several benefits are unlocked.
Print Metal Parts
First and foremost, an industrial 3D printer can make metal parts that are structurally identical to a machined part. The printer will use metal dust, so the finished material properties will be no different than a stock bar of the same metal.
Speedy Fabrication
A part that might take days or weeks to traditionally machine can be 3D printed within hours. A 3D printer can run 24/7 without taking breaks, and the speed of the traveling printing head is impressive. As a result, you can expect to get production items much sooner.
High-Precision Manufacturing
Another point to highlight is the precision that these machines offer. With the right setup, you can achieve tolerances of just a few mils — values that rival a precision machine shop.
Lower-Cost Prototypes
Despite the high accuracy and expedited turnaround times, 3D printers offer some of the lowest prices for one-off parts, meaning a prototype can be made for a fraction of the cost that a shop would quote you.
Essentially, you’re just paying for the volume of metal dust that you use in addition to some small operational costs of running the printer.
Unlock Easy Iterative Design
When you can quickly and accurately produce a part, you can start diving into iterative designs. This is especially useful for businesses in the early stages of designing a product that will go to market later.
An engineer can finish their design, get a printed part, review the physical unit, change the design, and start a new print all within the same day. Trying to do the same process using traditional machining could easily turn into a multi-week process.
This form of iterative design allows you to fine-tune a part and get quantitative data on how the part performs before mass production starts.
Create Units for Destructive Testing
Another step of the production process involves testing. For many, destructive testing is required. This test will indicate how long a product can be used, how much stress it can deal with, and how the product will break when it finally fails.
Rather than fabricating a batch of units and testing one of them to failure, you can use a 3D-printed part. The bonus is that these parts are less expensive and can be made much quicker. You can even create multiple nearly identical options to test different failure modes simultaneously.
Less Red Tape
If your business sends fabrication out to third-party vendors, you undoubtedly have to deal with a lot of red tape and paperwork. Depending on your business, you might spend days just getting the right permissions and creating the appropriate 2D drawings to get a part manufactured.
With an industrial 3D printer, you don’t even need a 2D drawing. Since the work is done in-house, it could be as easy as walking over to a printer with a USB drive in your hand.
Who Are Industrial 3D Printers Right For?
The simple answer is that industrial 3D printers are right for almost any business. Even if you’re not in manufacturing, you’ll find that 3D printers are highly versatile and adaptable.
This product isn’t right for residential consumers because the upfront costs and some environmental restrictions are too severe for the everyday hobbyist.
These printers can be used for businesses that have in-house machine shops or rely on outside vendors for fabrication. Whether you run a Fortune 50 aerospace company or a small HVAC operation, there are applications where industrial 3D printers will outperform the traditional model of fabrication.
Comparing Industrial and Desktop 3D Printers
Another form of 3D printer is the desktop version. Like other equipment that features the term “desktop,” this is a smaller-profile 3D printer that can typically sit on top of a desk.
Due to the size constraint, these printers don’t offer metal printing. With a desktop 3D printer, you’ll choose from a series of plastics, polymers, and synthetics. For residential applications, ABS and PLA are amongst the most popular choices.
For industrial uses, materials that include carbon fiber, nylon, or Kevlar can be great choices. They allow for the same flexibility that 3D printing offers with additional material properties that meet design constraints.
In fact, there are hundreds of material options to choose from, depending on your desktop 3D printer. You’ll find that you can essentially mix and match material properties while choosing your printable material. Choosing materials can almost fine-tune the tensile strength, elasticity, and heat resistance.
Industrial 3D printers are specifically tailored for businesses, but desktop 3D printers are more universal. You can find a desktop option in someone’s home, school, or a business with an industrial printer.
They are much less expensive while offering the same level of versatility.
The Benefits of Using Desktop 3D Printers
Consider the following benefits while you’re looking for desktop 3D printers. It might make your decision a little easier.
Lower-Cost Option
Comparatively, desktop 3D printers are less expensive to purchase, run, and maintain over time. The material used can also be much less expensive than the metal powder used in industrial options.
Create Highly Complex Parts
Due to the nature of 3D printers, a lot of design limitations are lifted. With traditional machining, the designer needs to ensure the part is machinable. With 3D printers, the designer can create highly complex designs that can be easily made on the printer.
Smaller Overall Size
Because these are desktop versions, they’re a lot smaller. With industrial printers, you might need to dedicate a small room (or at least a lot of floor space) to each printer. With desktop options, you can line them up and put multiple printers on a single lab bench.
Great for Hobbyists
A lot of hobbyists can benefit from a 3D printer. The user can make sculptures, art pieces, and replacement parts for use around the home and prototype their own designs. Residential 3D printers require very little to get started. Besides the printer and material, the user only needs a printable CAD model.
Even if the hobbyist isn’t a CAD modeler, they can find printable CAD models for free online from other designers.
Who Should Get a Desktop 3D Printer?
Desktop 3D printers are a highly versatile option. For that reason, it makes sense for individuals in a consumer market or businesses to own one of these 3D printers.
A consumer can quickly print a replacement cap for a bottle along with countless DIY applications around the home. A business can benefit from a desktop 3D printer to quickly prove a concept and create a physical model of an upcoming prototype.
Conclusion
There is a lot that a 3D printer can do for you. Whether you’re considering an industrial or desktop 3D printer, you’ll find plenty of versatility offered. You can fabricate low-run batches of products quicker, less expensively, and easier than if you tried to do the same via traditional machining.