The production of small series is without question one of the most important fields of application for 3D printing. After all, 3D printing in particular offers a hitherto hardly known opportunity to manufacture small series economically.
At this point we would like to give you a little more insight into the advantages of 3D printing in series production, with a particular focus on small series
Contents
What is the biggest advantage of 3D printing in small series production?
In the case of small series, the decisive advantage of additive manufacturing is first and foremost the ability to manufacture small quantities economically. At the same time, any errors can be corrected or changes made before the actual series production begins.
Compared to conventional production, 3D printing of small series also has the advantage that no production tools are required. Also, the elimination of inventory, warehousing, and costly lead times increases the economic benefits over conventional low-volume manufacturing.
Application examples
Case 1: sand cores
In our first example, sand cores are required to represent an interior geometry. These parts are to be manufactured using sand casting or popille casting. These parts can be quite complex, especially in the automotive industry. Since it is a small series, as is usual in the pre-series area, with a series size of less than 100 cast parts, the core costs become the decisive factor.
In this example, 3D-printed cores can achieve cost savings that pay off up to a series size of 300 to 500 parts. At the same time, a corresponding small series can be produced within a few days, in the sense of design freedom.
Case 2: electronics housing
Housings for electronic components are also ideal for small series production using 3D printing.
In this specific example, it is an electronics housing for everyday outdoor use, provided with a splash-water and dirt-repellent surface. With a production volume of 400 pieces per week, the SLS printing process with PA 2200 offers a solution that is as practical as it is economical. A surface refinement by vibratory grinding, coloring or infiltration is recommended as post-processing.
Small series with 3D Activation
We at 3D Activation have many years of experience in the production of small series and are happy to support you with your project. And if you don’t have any files for your small series production yet, we will be happy to support you with the design.
Read more about our key projects on our 3D printing blog.