3D printing and 3D digital production

3D printing is still often perceived as a tool for prototyping and simple production of manufacturing aids. When it comes to mass production, a company is usually presented with a set of desktop solutions placed side by side. This has little to do with digital manufacturing, which requires speed, quality and repeatable accuracy.

However, 3D digital manufacturing is not just about installing industrial 3D printers that spew out hundreds or thousands of components a day. Without a link to complex information systems for additive technologies, volume production is hard to achieve. An efficient infrastructure solves not only remote device management and material consumption for 3D printers, but also communication with internal and external clients, automatic checking of 3D models for 3D printing and preparation of individual print jobs, each of which can contain one or dozens of separate projects. Last but not least, they monitor and record the quality of output, control measurements, final post-processing and delivery of printed parts to the end user.

3D digital production with the help of additive technologies is an ecosystem containing industrial 3D printers, 3D scanners, post-processing equipment, CAD software, information systems and above all a skilled workforce that implements and improves the processes and moves a company further.

North America, China and Western Europe are furthest ahead on the road to digital transformation of production. However, the year 2020 shows changes in the approach to additive production in countries such as the Czech Republic as well.

Take a look at volume production of plastic parts on 3D printers at the American company Forecast 3D.