This trend is set to continue in 2020, as new advancements in 3D printing technology are expected to take affordability and ease of use to the next level.
Even affordable, desktop-sized 3D printers, for example, will soon be able to handle advanced industrial materials that, up until now, have been the domain of larger, high-end machines. This development will give cost-conscious SMEs the opportunity to deploy 3D printing in some of the most advanced and demanding industrial applications. Thanks to new print heads that can withstand temperatures as high as 450ºC, desktop printers will be able to print prototypes and parts using high-performance materials such as Peek and PEI.
Ease of installation and use is another key area where we’re already seeing exciting developments. Increasingly, 3D printers are becoming plug-and-play devices that can be set up and operated with virtually no technical skills. Some of the latest Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printers, for example, automatically recognise the filament reel once loaded, automating all settings for temperatures and feed rates and making swapping materials extremely easy and fast. Similarly, quick-change and programmable print heads can be easily swapped without tools. Thanks to their rewritable memory with calibration data, they are recognised automatically by the printer’s software as soon as they are connected.
Adapting the nozzle diameter will also become much quicker and easier. Changing the nozzle according to the print requirement is key to achieving the right balance in terms of speed and definition. But, normally, users have no choice but to print with the nozzle that is already incorporated within the head. New heads will make it possible to adapt the nozzle diameter quickly and easily, whether it’s for fine detail or for fast printing. This will give design engineers greater flexibility to experiment and unleash their creativity in areas such as rapid prototyping.
Over the coming year, 3D printing is also set to make further progress in terms of reducing downtime, which is often a business’ top priority. This is where the latest developments in 3D print control boards come in. They will offer faster heat-up times and power loss recovery, enabling users to restart a print from the exact point at which the power was lost. In this way, downtime will be reduced significantly.
More generally, what we can expect from the 3D printing industry is a move towards more adaptive and responsive solutions. Increasingly, businesses of any size will be able to count on made-to-measure 3D printers that can help them reduce downtime (and cost) and boost productivity. This trend is likely become more apparent as we head towards Brexit and more UK manufacturers of 3D printers reshore production.
The falling value of the pound that followed the Brexit referendum has already led companies like CEL-UK to reshore part of their production. Bringing the production of many of a 3D printers’ key components in house means that developments are made to the printer regularly and innovations realised. Design changes can be made and run to the production floor on the same day. Bespoke alterations, from increasing printer size through to adding features or even making an entirely bespoke printer, can also be factored in with relative ease.
Reshoring is also offering manufacturers of 3D printers like CEL-UK the opportunity to enhance their ability to research and innovate. This trend will hopefully continue in 2020, enabling the 3D printing industry to continue designing and producing technology that pushes the boundaries of affordability and ease of use.