When Should Your Company Get Serious About 3D Printing

Keeping up with current technology that can help promote and grow your business has long been a challenge for businesses both small and large. Every business is in constant search of that sweet spot when it comes to technology – not too early, when the cost outweighs the ROI, and not too late when you’re forced to play catch up.

Finding that sweet spot for the introduction of 3D printers into the business is the task many businesses find themselves facing right now. Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing can produce just about anything including models and prototypes of products and other objects. They work using processes such as fused deposition, selective laser sintering and stereolithography, all of which incorporate different materials and resin.

For Prototypes

If your business offers products that need to be sold to build a demand in advance of production, a 3D printer may be just the solution you are looking for. For example, in the world of cell phone accessories, many companies who develop and manufacture such products turn to a 3D printed prototype to get the ball rolling. Not only will these prototypes help in determining how well the proposed accessory will work with a specific phone, but it also helps in demonstrating for potential buyers and distributors.

Using a 3D printer to generate a working prototype saves businesses time and money. They are able to produce parts and pieces on the fly in the same day.

Do-It-Yourself

It seems that 3D printing has garnered great popularity and success in the DIY community, where people are able to print useful components or construct entire objects in a short amount of time rather than relying on someone else. Replicating broken appliance parts or even designing a custom-fit smartphone case are just a couple of examples of how individuals are using additive manufacturing.

For businesses, it allows the designing and building of certain products and parts to stay in house instead of having to depend on an outside company, which includes ordering, producing, and shipping.

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Growing Market

Expect to see 2 things in the immediate future:

• More practical and inventive uses of 3D printers by businesses and individuals
• The cost of 3D printers to continue to drop

In the meantime, if you have need of 3D printing and want to give it a try before purchasing your own, give Printing Solutions a call at 480-596-6300 and find out how we can help. Whether you need something in a hurry or are just looking to try it, we can help with your 3D printing needs.