When you are the owner of a company in Africa and you produce parts as a part of your business, you should really take a look into CNC machining services. These companies are so-called machine shops and they can create your products for you, so you can outsource everything instead of doing the production in-house. This can save time and money, which is also the case when you outsource it to 3D printing services. In fact, using 3D printing might even be a better idea, as it offers you many benefits. Some are mentioned below.
3D printing and prototyping
3D printing is particularly suitable for making a prototype, which usually is an example or test model of a product you want to sell to your customers in the future. Additive manufacturing gives you the opportunity to make unique products or small series without high start-up costs. Even after that it is easy to make any model adjustments, which is even possible with a few pieces. Because of that, 3D printing is the ideal method for further development and/or optimization in properties, model, and shape of an existing product, while it can be used to create prototypes as well.
Less stock
In 2020, it became more apparent than ever that the industrial world is vulnerable due to its complex supply chains. This has made it even clearer that close production has an advantage. 3D printing offers the solution. Thanks to this fast production method, it is no longer necessary to take large stocks. As a result, spare parts do not have to be in stock for years, with the risk that they will eventually have to be written off. 3D printing instead allows on-demand printing. As a result, the stock can be reduced or completely taken over by a digital stock.
Lighter 3D printed parts
3D printing is also often used to print lighter parts and thus save weight. In aerospace or automotive, for example, fuel is saved, resulting in lower CO2 emissions and lower costs. However, for many other industries, lightweight products are also very interesting, even if it may not always be obvious. This can be achieved by using topology optimization, which is a design method in which material is only used in places where it actually makes an effective contribution. By doing this, it is possible to produce parts that use a minimum amount of material but are still robust and strong.
Improving healthcare
Research has shown that the use of 3D printing can yield significant savings in the medical field. Think of reducing OR costs and shortening the lead time. The use of anatomical models and drilling and sawing jigs has a significant influence on the time saving of a treatment too. Furthermore, 3D printing makes healthcare cheaper. This is the case since the 3D printed patient-specific medical devices ensure that the procedure is more efficient and effective, while it will also cost less to 3D print tools instead of producing them in a different way.