3D Printing vs. Traditional Manufacturing for Small Parts
In manufacturing, innovative approaches to production are popping up rapidly, introducing new ways to complete projects efficiently and effectively. However, even the most innovative manufacturing techniques don’t eliminate the significance and benefits of more traditional methods. This is the case for 3D printing vs. traditional manufacturing for small parts production. Each technique comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, enabling flexibility in how manufacturers and project managers approach small part production projects.
Traditional Manufacturing Overview
Traditional manufacturing encompasses a wide range of well-established processes, including but not limited to, machining, casting, molding, and forming. These processes have been the backbone of industrial manufacturing for decades, carefully honed to deliver consistency and reliability. Traditional manufacturing often involves an experienced manufacturer at the helm, trained to create intricate shapes consistently and accurately.
Traditional manufacturing methods have only been further optimized over time. Even when producing man-made parts, traditional manufacturing continues to be known for its track record of stability and dependability. In various industries, traditional manufacturing offers high-quality and customization. However, it’s important to keep in mind that with these results comes some downsides. Primarily, traditional manufacturing is known to result in more unnecessary waste and longer lead times than automated methods.
If you’re looking to commission precise machining for your next project, look no further than BSG. Our adaptable team of manufacturing professionals are trained in a variety of traditional manufacturing methods, and can deliver precise small parts efficiently. Whether you’re seeking a specific method or a specific result, we can recommend the best traditional manufacturing methods to meet your project outcomes.
3D Printing Overview
3D printing is a cutting-edge technology that constructs objects layer-by-layer based on digital models. It relies on the additive manufacturing methodology, where only the material needed is used to design the object. This directly contrasts with traditional manufacturing, which relies on a subtractive manufacturing methodology, gradually cutting away at a pre-existing material workpiece to create the design. As a result, 3D printing is capable of completely eliminating waste.
Originally, 3D printing was primarily utilized for prototyping, but recently has evolved beyond this to play a vital role in producing end-use parts. Thanks to its automated nature, 3D printing is capable of producing multiple complex small parts that are identical. It’s adaptable and easily customizable. Furthermore, 3D printing enables experimentation with innovative structures and materials, something not as prevalent in traditional manufacturing production.
BSG houses a state-of-the-art 3D printer capable of executing tolerances as tight as ± 0.1mm in Z, and ± 0.25mm in X and Y. Trust our experienced team of manufacturers to manage your project with superior efficiency, creating low-cost, reinforced small parts ready for immediate use.
Contact us to tell us about your 3D printing project!
3D Printing vs. Traditional Manufacturing for Small Parts
Speed/Efficiency
3D printing shines when it comes to swift production. Creating small components is a manufacturing practice that requires utmost efficiency. Traditional manufacturing demands time-intensive preparation. Depending on the project’s needs, it can require lengthy molding and tooling setups which slows down production time.
3D printing manufactures small, intricate parts directly from digital blueprints, circumventing the need for extensive setups. Additionally, 3D printing projects can be executed with little to no human intervention. In projects requiring multiple components of different sizes, 3D printing enables human manufacturers to use their talents on more demanding portions of a project. This immediate manufacturing capacity is invaluable in sectors where prototypes or small-scale production runs are needed expeditiously, allowing companies to iterate and refine their products at a pace incompatible with conventional approaches.
Costs
Tooling, setup, and manual labour all contribute to rising costs when utilizing traditional manufacturing methods. Particularly for smaller production volumes, 3D printing holds a distinct edge over traditional manufacturing method costs. Injection molding, for instance, necessitates considerable upfront investment in custom molds, making small-batch production financially unfeasible for many businesses.
3D printing drastically reduces these expenses by offering direct-to-production capabilities. The overall reduction in waste and setup costs result in lower total expenses for small production runs.
Precision
Utmost precision is necessary for components requiring exact specifications. Traditional methods, having benefited from years of refinement, can deliver exceptionally high accuracy and surface finish quality. Traditional methods excel in industries requiring high-tolerances. Traditional automated manufacturing techniques like CNC machining is an amazing choice for projects prioritizing precision above costs and efficiency. CNC machining offers unparalleled precision while minimizing production errors and maintaining consistent quality across large runs.
High resolution 3D printing can also achieve detailed finishes that are suitable for many applications, but in industries such as oil and gas, where precision is the primary concern, traditional manufacturing methods reign supreme. Consistency and post-processing still remain a challenge for 3D printing.
Production Volume
Traditional manufacturing methods excel in various production volumes due to their scalability. Once the initial setup is complete, processes such as injection molding or CNC machining are capable of churning out thousands or millions of consistent parts within a short time frame. As the volume of production increases, the initial setup costs are made up for with high speed and efficiency.
Overall, 3D printing is the best choice for low-volume, on-demand productions with customized designs between each part. In other more large-scale productions, traditional manufacturing is the superior choice.