3D printing also known as the additive manufacturing process is the technology that allows layer-by-layer creation of a model.
You may have gone through the articles regarding the benefits of 3D printing but this article focuses on challenges in 3D printing. Though 3D printing has benefits it has some challenges as well. Let’s unveil some of them.
Equipment at High Cost
Unlike traditional printing methods, the expenses associated with 3D printing are high. Think of plastic, we can produce an enormous quantity of plastic, so much that it harms the environment.
The metal printers required by the big companies are costly and the pace of production is also slow.
Less Knowledge of 3D Printing
3D printing is a new notion for many people. There are fewer professionals in the market who have a good knowledge of operating such machines.
In order to successfully print the 3D models, companies should invest their time and money in training an employee.
Effect on the Environment
Most 3D printers use a plastic filament which is relatively cheap. But its remaining product turns up into a garbage lot.
Keeping this in mind the company should use fewer plastic materials or reuse the byproduct to reduce the effect.
Less Lifespan or Product
There is a possibility to print a lot of spare parts, which can extend the guarantee and is more environmentally friendly. But several times people rely on the business model based on low-quality products. By reducing the product process – 3D printing is an issue. The company must produce such parts which offer a guarantee and good lifespan of the product, and also do not constantly change the product process constantly.
Slow Production Speed
If your goal is a large scale production, then speed matters. Nonetheless, a large portion of the current 3D printers actually lingers behind traditional equipment in terms of speed and efficiency.
This is an obstacle in the industry driven by mass production like automotive and consumer goods. In such an industry, products need to be manufactured in a short span of time, to maintain production efficiency.
Issue in Workflow
3D printing is one of the modernized and important technologies in smart factories. Yet, sometimes companies struggle to establish the workflow process. Several parts lie in using different software to go from design to the finished parts. This sometimes leads to a disconnected process and reduces production efficiency.
Lack of standardization
The lack of a set of standards for 3D printing remains one of the key barriers to technology.
In big industries like aerospace, defense, and automotive 3D printed parts must meet the strict requirements. So certification will be the key factor to build confidence and create a robust certification approach.
Fortunately, some standard advancement associations, as ISO and ASTM global, have just started the way toward creating industry standards.
Security Risk
Security is the key concern for the companies looking to adopt additive manufacturing. Like other technologies, 3D printing also has a risk of security and cyber attacks. There lies a possibility of tampering with the data that will harm the intellectual property of the company.
To tackle this issue, you would need a tailored solution across the entire 3D printing ecosystem to ensure security and IP protection.
Material Availability
One can use 3D printing with a broad range of materials counting metals, ceramics, and polymers. Yet, there is an issue of the availability of suitable material while using 3D printing as the production method. There are still relatively small sets of compatible materials available.
The main reason behind it the nature of many 3D printing materials that can help a company establish its monopoly. This will force the customer to buy the materials directly from the manufacturers.
