3D Printing is Changing and the Shift is Profound

Whether you call it 3D printing or additive manufacturing, the technology that lets almost anyone create highly complex part shapes from filaments, liquids and powders has spawned an entirely new industry. Once thought to be the successor to subtractive manufacturing technologies like machining, additive has evolved into a part making technology with a fundamental difference: the ability to make shapes that are completely impossible to build in any other way.

But for the 20 or so years that additive has been a commercially available technology, the primary criticism has been about scale. “3D printing is great for small volumes, but not for mass production”, said the detractors.

ABOUT END OF THE LINE:
Manufacturing veteran James Anderton expresses his compelling and unique opinions about the state of the manufacturing sector. He shares his thoughts and insights to help engineering and manufacturing professionals navigate through the challenges of world events, the blending old with new technologies, evolving processes, gaps in skilled labour, in an effort to help maximize productivity of their daily operations.

James is a former editor of trade publications in the automotive, metalworking and plastics industries with contributions to a wide range of print and on-line publications. He also brings prior industry experience in quality and manufacturing for a Tier One automotive supplier.

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#3D_Printing #Additive_Manufacturing #Mass_Production