Robotics offers a wide range of opportunities to improve daily life, from automating mundane tasks to increasing efficiency and productivity in industries, and providing new, convenient products and services to consumers.
To benefit from these advantages however, one needs to consider all that goes into the considerations of building a robot. To list just a few…
Size and complexity of the parts or enclosures
Material properties and availability
Cost and budget
Lead time and production volume
Surface finish and tolerances required
When considering a manufacturing process, it couldn’t be more critical to consider what is most efficient for not only meeting the requirements towards the robot’s applications, but also ensuring potential for scalability.
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is an effective method for prototyping and producing robotic parts and enclosures for several reasons. Firstly, it allows for the rapid production of complex geometries and internal structures, which can be difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. Secondly, it is a cost-effective solution for small volume production and can save on material costs. Lastly, it enables greater design freedom and flexibility. In comparison to other manufacturing methods, 3D printing can save up to 90% on tooling costs, reduces lead times by 50-70% and also reduces material waste by up to 80%.
The future of additive manufacturing in robotics is bright as it enables faster and more efficient prototyping, production, and design iteration, reducing barriers for creative individuals and companies to bring new and innovative products to market. This will have a positive impact on the quality of life across various industries, from healthcare to transportation and beyond.
When was the last time you’ve checked for quotes for a print job instead of considering which printer you’d rather purchase? With the advances in technology, printers can now be designed to be operated as a service, and enable access to manufacturing grade capabilities. Whether it’s a one time print for a hobby project, or scaling production for the next hundred or thousand of units with minimal bottlenecks due to supply chain, the options to continue operations have never been more practical.