3D Printer for Industrial R&D

In the hands of a skilled engineer, the transition from concept to prototype to the minimum viable product can look a lot like magic, and that’s all thanks to the limitless possibilities 3D printers for industrial R&D are offering. Like we stated earlier, this guide is optimized to help you better understand the function of 3D printers in industrial R&D applications.

To further simplify its impact in the sector thus far, let’s take a quick peek at the opportunities 3D printers are opening up in multiple industrial application fields.

2.1, 3D Printers for Industrial Goods

Industrial goods are based on the demand for the consumer goods they help to produce. Industrial goods are classified as either production goods or support goods. Production goods are used in the production of a final consumer good or product, while support goods help in the production process of consumer goods such as machinery and equipment.

Companies involved in the industrial goods sector represent a variety of industries, including (but not limited to) machinery, construction, defense, aerospace, and housing.

The production of industrial goods calls for heavy capital investment. Most of the companies involved in the production of industrial goods raise capital by issuing shares and debentures and also by resorting to borrowing from financial institutions. However, since the introduction of 3D printers for industrial R&D, the production sequence in the creation of industrial have changed. High-resolution 3D printers have heightened the production line of most manufacturers dealing in the production and distribution of industrial goods.

Has a crucial part broken on your machine? 3D printing spare parts are becoming a huge asset for both companies and customers! With our 3D printers for industrial R&D, you can maintain a digital inventory of your parts and produce them as needed. Moreover, if the part often breaks, it might be time to take advantage of 3D printing to prevent it from breaking! Re-thinking and re-engineering the part can help you improve its resistance over time or to specific constraints.

The industrial goods sector includes companies involved with aerospace and defense, industrial machinery, tools, lumber production, construction, waste management, manufactured housing, and cement and metal fabrication. Performance in the industrial goods sector is largely driven by supply and demand for building construction in the residential, commercial, and industrial real estate segments, as well as the demand for manufactured products.

It’s needless to say that most of the above-listed industries rely largely on the modeling and prototyping operations of 3D printers for industrial R&D makes possible. To keep the rapid prototyping and 3D printing task in line with market needs and customers’ requirements in the industrial goods sector, it’s essential you purchase high-resolution FDM printers. These printers are backed with easy to navigate UI, can print large pieces of stuff, and are quite easy to build and calibrate.

2.2, 3D Printer for Mold

The majority of plastic products in the world today are manufactured by injection molding. However, fabricating molds can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, molds don’t always need to be machined out of metal—they can be 3D printed. Here are some of the benefits jewelers, artisans, and the regular day to day 3D printing enthusiast are enjoying from using 3D printers for industrial R&D to print molds.

Printing multiple copies at once: If you’re frustrated that traditional 3D printing necessitates creating one object at a time, 3D printed molds will help you enormously. Although you do have to create one mold at a time, once you’ve got your set ready, you can use them all at once, and mass manufacture your objects in batches that will speed your production nicely.

Starting your own small-scale manufacturing business: If you’re looking to get a one-stop manufacturing business off the ground on a (relatively) shoestring budget, 3D printing your own molds will help you go far. You’ll be able to use the 3D printing and prototyping machine that you have (if you already have access to a 3D printer) or buy it for much cheaper than standard manufacturing equipment if you don’t. Plus, you can start small without worrying about wasting money or resources on much more than you need.

3D printers come in all sizes, from portable and desktop to person-sized floor models, so you’ll be able to tailor your molds to your exact needs and control how much you spend on them. Startup costs can make or break a new business, and 3D printing molds can help you keep those ways down.

Exact copies: If you need consistent replication on a mass scale, high-resolution 3D printers will keep your designs identical without any need to recalibrate between batches. 3D printers themselves are getting more reliable by the second, with both software and hardware updates constantly utilizing the newest ways to talk to each other, but when you 3D print a mold to work with, you only have to worry about design details once. After that, your go-to template will only need adjusting if you want to change anything on purpose, not because you have to compensate for changing printing conditions.

NOTE THAT: 3D printing molds make the printing process simple, time-saving, and cost-efficient. There are a good number of 3D printers for industrial R&D available for the design and creation of molds. While SLA, LCD, and DLP are formidable machines for mold creation, their durability and portability are quite limited. To enjoy the mold design and creation process to the fullest, it’s advisable you opt for the FDM 3D printing process.

2.3, 3D Printer for Anime Figure 3D Printer

Creating animation is a very complex task. From the design phase to prototyping to the end product, you can’t afford to slip out any detail—missing out on even the smallest element can hinder the portability and flexibility of the end product.

FMD machines are regarded as a durable option for creating animations because it grants designers the opportunity to pay meticulous attention to detail while leaving room for even the most minor editing to be carried out. With the best FDM 3D printer at your disposal, you can streamline an animation creation process; rest assured, accuracy is guaranteed.

Animations nowadays are extremely detailed. Many animation lovers find it arguable that every single part, feature, or attribute inculcated in their favorite cartoon characters was detailed down during the design process.

The development process involved in using animations to create a movie is extremely different from having humans act. Unlike humans, animations don’t possess instincts or inbuilt characters—that’s every animation you have ever come across, be it in movies or on social platforms, was thoroughly thought about, detailed, and designed. Imagine the countless hours manually designing an animation would take? Then think of the cost?

The introduction of FDM printers in the animation industry made it possible for designers to create complex elements within a limited time frame. Top FDM printers don’t just make the process faster but also ensures that users get to obtain high-quality end product at a minimal cost.

3D printers for industrial R&D are at the forefront of the cartoon and animation industry, and FDM 3D printers are currently leading the bandwagon. FDM resolution makes it easy for designers and professionals in the 3D printing sector to enjoy a highly detailed printing process.

However, you might want to bear in mind that while FDM 3D printers are ideal for individuals looking to create formidable anime figures in the animation industry, there are multiple variants of custom FDM printers. To ensure you are making use of the right 3D printer for industrial R&D, we recommend you explore our catalog, or better still, put a call through to our support representative today.

2.4, 3D Printer for Cosplay and Stage Property

Creative artists who are using the 3D printing tech to raise the bar on quality cosplay and craftsmanship. Before purchasing the optimal 3D printer for cosplay, enthusiasts must first identify what it is they want to print. Part of knowing what you want to print understands the size of the design, the durability required, and the usage of the print. This makes it easier to decide whether you should go for print volume or resolution, for example.

Typically, Cosplay requires a large build volume because you will be mostly making pieces to be worn. Your home 3D printer will unlikely accommodate large prints, but it may come in handy when you want to print fine details. Printing a large object on a small build area means you will require more welds, and welds are usually a weak point.

There are tons of 3D printers for industrial R&D out there that come with a variety of features, but here are the things to put into consideration when picking a 3D printer for cosplay:

Type of Filament – In most instances, you will find yourself wanting to experience rapid prototyping and 3D printing with different filament colors and types to achieve the diverse characteristics of your cosplay. You will want your prints to be durable and be more realistic, and that means printing with exotic filaments and doing some post-processing as well.

Characters in the Sci-Fi genre, for example, may require the use of more exotic materials like ceramics, metal, and wood, beyond the usual materials like PLA and ABS. For the shields and swords, you may want to consider materials like PCT and PCL. Metallic filaments will be best suited for your metallic finishes or glowing features.

Build Volume – Build volume is the capacity or size of the platform where you will be printing your cosplay. It is one of the most crucial features for a 3D printer for cosplay because you are mostly creating wearable objects. Note that you will need a relatively large build space for most of your costumes or props. The goal is to always go for a volume that can accommodate your print. A large print volume will allow you to print your cosplay in fewer parts, and fewer parts mean that your object will have fewer weak points.

Easy Usage– While a 3D printer for industrial R&D may seem complicated when used for the very first time, it becomes easier to operate with time and experience. Understanding the software and other mechanical features is part and parcel of the learning process. Still, the first few days with your 3D printer can become a daunting task.

If you don’t have a high-resolution 3D printer or maker experience already, you probably want a 3D printer that comes assembled so that you can avoid assembling it from scratch. Many people want to attach a spool of filament and start printing within a matter of minutes. But more importantly, you also want to easily keep track of and control all the parameters that are responsible for the printing process. These may include temperature, print speed, and filament consumption.

Cosplayers have moved beyond the needle and thread into 3D printing technology, which allows creators to bring their favorite characters to life. Today, creators are using a 3D printer for industrial R&D to adapt intricate designs from movies and video games. The first step is choosing the right 3D printer, and we’re here to help you with that decision.

2.5, 3D Printer for 3D Printing Aerospace

Due to the typically short runs of aircraft parts, the aerospace industry uses 3D printers for industrial R&D for a great deal of its production. The technology can produce intricate parts that are more resilient and lightweight compared to those made using traditional techniques, which is an obvious bonus.

Generally speaking, the Aerospace industry was one of the earliest adopters of 3D printing technology, with initial use recorded back in the late 1980s. Nowadays, it is still considered the industry which has the highest rate of adoption of 3D printing technologies.

Factors like quicker delivery of finished parts, relatively low production quantities, and the ability to Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM). The latter is especially crucial for producing lighter parts while maintaining strength, addressing challenges like reducing an aircraft’s fuel consumption by reducing its overall weight, thus cutting operational costs and lowering carbon dioxide emissions – two major problems Airlines face.

External factors, which are industry agnostic, like supply chain optimization due to decentralized production of parts in the location they are required (as opposed to centrally producing parts and shipping them around), also make 3D printers for industrial R&D appealing and valuable for players in the Aerospace industry.

In addition, 3D printers for industrial R&D can produce hundreds of thousands of parts without relying on expensive tooling changes involved with traditional manufacturing processes. “Tool-less” production requires less energy since modified parts or upgrades can be produced as needed, alleviating the need for costly storage.

Aerospace parts often include internal channels for conformal cooling, internal features, thin walls, and complex curved surfaces. 3D printing processes can create highly complex and lightweight structures with high stability whilst allowing for the consolidation of multiple parts into a single component.

Note that, Prior to production, tooling for injection molding, jigs/fixtures, and thermoforming can be manufactured quickly and at a lower cost thanks to 3D printers for industrial R&D. While 3D printing in the aerospace industry used to be used for the prototyping phase alone, it is now used more than ever for the manufacturing of end parts too, since larger industrial printers can print quickly using a variety of materials.

2.6, 3D Printer for Car Parts

The 3D printing technology has given rise to spectacular achievements in the automotive industry, starting from the possibility of fast prototyping, through a more and more widespread production of final car parts, and ending with 3D manufacturing of nearly the whole cars.
Nobody should be surprised with a growing interest in 3D printers for industrial R&D on the part of large concerns, such as Mitsubishi Chemical or BASF, which see a serious and profitable business in using FDM printing technology in the automotive sector.

The automotive sector has liked rapid prototyping 3D printing and has been using its opportunities on a daily basis more and more often. Designers and engineers open to innovation implement bold ideas with the use of the technology, thus, extending the pallet of engineering benefits and optimizing the manufacturing processes.

3D printers for industrial R&D has great power and enables the achievement of effects that would not be possible with the use of traditional manufacturing methods. Car components produced with the FDM technology are lighter, which results in a reduction of the vehicle weight, better performance, and lower energy consumption.

One of the currently most popular and most frequently used 3D printing technology in the automotive sector is FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication). Its advantage is the possibility to use many different materials, the properties of which are similar to plastics.

With the use of a 3D printer for industrial R&D, the needed parts and details may be created, which not only enables companies to keep production continuity, which is very important nowadays but also become independent of external suppliers and streamline the production processes.

If you are in search of high-resolution 3D printers that can effectively streamline the FDM 3D printing process in the design and creation of auto parts, we recommend you take a look at the variants available in our catalog.

2.7, 3D Printer for Medical

3D printers for industrial R&D has many functions in a variety of industries; however, in the medical field, it has four main applications. Rapid prototyping 3D printing could be used to replace human organ transplants, speed up surgical procedures, produce cheaper versions of required surgical tools, and improve the lives of those reliant on prosthetic limbs.

Additive manufacturing, otherwise known as 3D printing, was first developed in the 1980s. It involves taking a digital model or blueprint of the subject that is then printed in successive layers of appropriate material to create a new version of the subject.

The technique has been applied to many different industries, including medical technology. Often medical imaging techniques, such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and ultrasounds, are used to produce the original digital model, which is subsequently fed into the 3D printer. Here are some of the product design 3D printing brings to the table in the medical industry.

3D printing of surgical instruments: sterile surgical instruments, such as forceps, hemostats, scalpel handles, and clamps, can be produced using 3D printers. Not only do high-resolution 3D printers produce sterile tools, but some are also based on the ancient Japanese practice of origami, meaning they are precise and can be made very small. These instruments can be used to operate on tiny areas without causing unnecessary extra damage to the patient.

Custom-made prosthetics using 3D printing: 3D printing in the medical field can be used to produce prosthetic limbs that are customized to suit and fit the wearer. It is common for amputees to wait weeks or months to receive prosthetics through the traditional route; however, 3D printers for industrial R&D significantly speeds up the process, as well as creating much cheaper products that offer patients the same functionality as traditionally manufactured prosthetics.

Replicate Organs: Another application of 3D printers for industrial R&D in the medical field is creating patient-specific organ replicas that surgeons can be used to practice on before performing complicated operations. This technique has been proven to speed up procedures and minimize trauma for patients. This type of procedure has been performed successfully in surgeries ranging from a full-face transplant to spinal procedures and is beginning to become routine practice.

2.8, 3D Printer for Architectural Models

If you are a modern-day architect, you might be familiar with using computer-aided design (CAD) software to create virtual 3-dimensional(3D) objects for projects. If you have been around for some time, you will know that these models don’t mean much if your clients can’t touch and interact with them. Designing physically scaled models of your virtual 3D objects is a better way to visualize your architectural ideas. This is where a 3D printer comes in very handy.

3D Printers for industrial R&D acts as an intermediary between you as the designer and the manufactured 3D object you desire to showcase to your client or colleagues. It does so by translating your CAD project into a 3D object. The process is much faster than traditional model making methods that rely on very skilled craftsman to create a scale model. You will definitely save a lot of time when using a 3D printer but also leave your client very impressed with a good quality scale model.

3D printing for architecture is a growing application of additive manufacturing. You can realize concrete structures and 3D printed houses. Having a physical architectural model will enable you as an architect to better present your ideas and come across clearer to your client. The level of detail high-resolution 3D printers adds to your scale model can be very impressive when you try to win a client over.

While it is useful to have models and mockups, a physical model makes it easier to spot a design flaw or any defects associated with your design. The low cost of creating 3D models and the amount of time saved makes it better than traditional methods used to create scale models.

Innovation is encouraged by 3D printers for industrial R&D. When you are able to witness the creation of your idea into a real object in a few hours, it is much easier to go and create something new again and improve on that design. If you want to experiment with different designs; this way, model creation allows that. This way, you can make sure you only present the very best and most creative ideas to your client.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunities the FDM 3D printing process brings to the architectural industry. If you are in search of a high-resolution 3D printer for industrial R&D that can cater to your printing line and would like to be on the safe edge, contact Dreambot3D support team today; we will guide you through the buying process.

2.9, 3D Printer for Drone

What’s the benefit of using 3D printers for industrial R&D to print drone parts? If you’re not an experienced RC pilot, crashing and breaking parts of your aerial vehicle can be expensive. Instead of buying new parts at a hobby shop, you can 3D print your own spare parts as needed.

For different use cases, different designs will prove worthwhile. For the hobbyist that buys a fully assembled quadcopter, they’ll still appreciate a simple 3D printed range booster that, acting as a parabolic reflector with some metallic tape, will increase the range of the remote control threefold.

Elsewhere, the tech enthusiast that builds his own drone from scratch can improve the accuracy of his onboard electronics by eliminating general shakiness with a 3D Printed Anti Vibration Mount, which still conducts major movements that come from actual changes in flight.

However, you might want to note that 3D printing takes time. It can take up to several hours to print a small-sized part of sufficient quality. Moreover, becoming an expert in 3D modeling and high-resolution 3D printing requires skills you have to develop and practice. In the early stages, a beginner may experience frustration when designing the parts they need.

But don’t worry, there are plenty of tutorials online, plus websites where you can find STL files of 3d printable drone parts, which you can download and print without having to create them yourself. Other than the above, there aren’t many reasons why you shouldn’t just go ahead and 3D print your own parts!

With your own 3D printer for industrial R&D to hand, part designs can be easily upgraded and further developed to improve the performance of your quadcopter. On top of that, 3D printed drone parts are quickly interchangeable, and you can do it yourself. You can even have the parts manufactured by a professional 3D printing service – if you want to get the best price for a special item, please consult the Dreambot3D support team.

2.10, 3D Printer for Gun

Generally speaking, most 3D printable gun files still require non-3D printed parts in order to complete the build; otherwise, they’re not all that reliable – making them a less than ideal option for would-be criminals looking to have an unregistered firearm.

But, this is changing, and a lot of improvements have been made to 3D printers for industrial R&D. Many manufacturers now provide FDM machines capable of effectively 3D printing gun parts such as AR-15 lowers, Glock frames, AK receivers (which can handle 2,000 rounds and are only partially 3D printed), and some pistols like the Songbird (which is primarily 3D printed).

Part of their goal is to allow people to 3D print guns as cheaply as possible, using the cheapest 3D printers and filaments. While the former gun parts (Glock frames, AK receivers, etc.) still require a host of metal parts to be completed, the latter does not.

Many industries that use 3D printing to build their own guns are moving away from 3D printing them and shifting to using CNC milling instead. Rather than trying to print an entire gun out of plastic, these groups are milling unfinished lower receivers for AR-15s, known as the 80% lowers or 80% receivers, and using that along with other parts to produce completed rifles.

With these CNC milled guns, after buying the CNC mill itself, you can spend about $200 to $400 more for the additional gun parts. However, using 3D printers or industrial R&D to design guns is a more probable option. The fast and efficient FDM 3D printing process backed by the simple and easy to model product design 3D printing brings to the table makes it a cost-efficient option.