Additive Manufacturing: Short Run Production

Learn why additive manufacturing is a viable alternative for short-run production. Review the benefits, costs, materials, and use cases for additive manufacturing.

As an alternative to traditional manufacturing techniques such as injection molding, additive manufacturing becomes an attractive option at quantities up to 1,000 units or even more. It can also function as a backup for making bridge parts before the regular ones are available in a manufacturing plant. This course discusses some of the key advantages of additive manufacturing, including part number reduction and thus reduced assembly time; increased reliability; backup capability in case of a part shortage; and possibly lower tooling costs. Instructors Rich Cameron and Joan Horvath also review some of the real-world manufacturing use cases where additive is cost effective and suggest which materials (filament, liquid resin, or powder) might make the most sense for your company and product.

Introduction

• Using 3D printers for short-run production

1. Analyzing Your Current Workflow

• Analyzing your current products
• Considering your current workflow
• When products become digital

2. Risk Reduction: Trying Out Additive Manufacturing

• Testing out additive: Candidates for a trial application
• Printing with filament
• Printing with resin
• Printing with powder

3. Benefits and Case Studies

• Reducing part count and lightweighting
• Eliminating or reducing tooling
• Bridge manufacturing
• Molds and casting

4. Costs

• Learning curves
• Big or small printers?
• Capital outlay and maintenance: Filament printers
• Capital outlay and maintenance: Resin printers
• Capital outlay and maintenance: Powder printers

5. Medical/Dental

• Medical/dental additive manufacturing issues
• Dental applications
• Medical additive manufacturing applications

Conclusion

• Next steps