As 3D printing becomes more accessible, affordable, and capable of impacting various industries over time, a handful of questions have arose from those trying to better understand exactly what this technology can do for them. Luckily, for those looking to implement 3D printing technology from one of the many accelerators or incubators out there, the France-based online 3D printing service provider Sculpteo might just have the answers you’ve been searching for. As of late, Sculpteo has been more engaged in the 3D printing community than most, they’ve recently started releasing their “State of 3D Printing” industry report, which thus far has detailed the widespread hobbyist market, as well as their survey methodology and sample data.
Secondly, it’s also critical that the project is examined through a lens a 3D design. Whether you’re planning on producing the files yourself or outsourcing them, it’s a must to make sure that the 3D file of the product or parts being 3D printed is actually printable. There are a set of rules out there that help optimize 3D files for printing, which can be found on Sculpteo and through other 3D printing service providers. It’s important, especially if you’re experienced with 3D printing, to enlist the help of a professional who is capable of designing your content into a high-quality 3D printable file.
For those looking to introduce 3D printing into their business model, it’s probably wise to fully immerse into the emerging technology sooner rather than later. As 3D printing slowly shifts from prototyping to production capabilities, a large number of 3D printing services and different technologies have arisen out of the blue. Cassaignau suggests gaining some hands-on experience with the wide-range of 3D printing technologies that are currently available, from desktop 3D printers to the more advanced industrial-grade machines. This knowledge can be acquired by visiting a maker space or 3D printing service bureau, which can help bring clarity to the five key factors of the 3D printing project:
- The time it takes to 3D print a product vs. a large amount of goods
- The quality of the 3D prints you should aim for
- The price of your 3D printed parts
- The failure rate during production depending on the technology
- The different materials you can use
Finally, Cassaignau suggests that you research other means of manufacturing as well, for sometimes 3D printing—as much admiration as we may have for it—is not always the best route to take. In order to further assist with this manufacturing choice, you should research other 3D printed projects that are similar to yours or reflect what you’re attempting to accomplish. By doing this, you can see exactly what will you need in order to bring this project to life, whether that be an accompanying software, additional 3D content, or other internal resources that can make or break a startup. By performing intensive research before diving into the vast world of 3D printing, you can avoid mistakes, unnecessary spending, and most importantly, creating a product that doesn’t live up to your standards. Is there anything you would add to Sculpteo’s guidelines? Discuss in the Sculpteo 3D Printing Guidelines forum over at 3DPB.com.
[Source: Sculpteo]