3D printing has predominantly enabled those businesses creating products in hardened plastics to experience rapid prototyping for a range of different items and in turn save money at almost every stage of the design and production process. However, for businesses dealing with other materials, up until recently, very little has been on offer that has allowed them to experience the same type of benefits.
Times are changing though, and with many more materials now being utilised by such printing devices, those businesses utilising ceramics and silver have also been able to get a fast prototype of their product. And now, there has been an even bigger breakthrough – the ability to use a 3D printer to create bendy and malleable items too.
Whilst in the past only very strong and durable materials were able to be utilised by a 3D printer, there have now be flexible plastics utilised by printers. This brings many potential benefits with it, and not only are businesses likely to use this advancement to help them to create products more cost-effectively and faster, but they are also likely to find that they can simply create better products too.
Rapid prototyping is now not just there to help business cut a corner or two in the design and manufacturing process. Instead it can now help businesses to find which precise material is right for their products. For example, there is a big difference between the plastic used for flexible phone covers and the plastic used to create the shell of a laptop, and by companies having the chance to test out different types of material, they have a far better chance of utilising the perfect material for every single item they create.
With the increase in materials that can be used in 3D printing, there has never been a better time to utilise such prototyping to create the best possible product.