Additive vs traditional manufacturing

3D printing has revolutionised manufacturing. Where traditional subtractive technologies relied on removing material from a billet or block to obtain the desired shape, 3D printing now offers high throughput and high levels of surface finishing. Stephen Hayes, Managing Director of Beckhoff UK, explores why companies need to evaluate what mix of traditional and additive manufacturing makes sense for their business.

31/10/2023 10:27:27

3D printing dates back to the early 1980s in Japan, when Hideo Kodama developed a rapid prototyping system, an early version of the stereolithography (SLA) machine. For years, additive manufacturing was not considered a method for high-volume production because older 3D printing systems did not offer high throughput, and had poor surface finishing and inadequate material properties.

Now, 3D printing is helping many companies to transform their business models to become more efficient and agile, as well as handle supply chain disruptions. It produces a broad range of items with a high degree of customisation, reducing waste and labour, thanks to automation systems that control volume design and workflows, post-processing, and quality assurance.

A study on additive manufacturing conducted by Deloitte shows that 63 percent of users deploy the technology for prototyping, while only 21 percent use it for items that cannot be made any other way.

Read the full article in DPA's November issue