Why Large 3D Print Machine Is a Smart Investment for High-Volume Production

In case of high volume production, the manufacturers have always resorted to injection molding, casting or other traditional techniques that have been used to produce at scale. These methods however are associated with high barriers, high initial tooling, long set up time and in flexibility in changing the design. This is the paradigm that is being challenged by large format 3D printing. At Dowell 3D, we have been committed to developing highly versatile, adaptable, and cost effective 3D printing solutions in industries since 2014. Our FDM and FGF technologies, premium materials and reactive customer support are making large format 3D printers a smart buy in terms of large volume production with increasing applications. Here is why.

Elimination of Expensive Tooling and Molds

Tooling is the greatest initial expenditure in the conventional high volume production. The injection molds, casting dies and forming tools could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and require months to be produced which is a huge financial risk even before the first part is produced. The 3D printing of large format does away with this obstacle completely. The FDM and FGF systems of Dowell 3D generate pieces directly based on the digital files and there is no need to invest in tools. This tool less method enables the manufacturer to start producing right away, minimises the initial capital outlay, and also does not necessitate any financial commitment to the tooling that can become redundant should the designs change. In high volume applications, this change converts the fixed costs to variable costs in order to enhance the return on investment.

Cost Efficiency Through Granule-Based FGF Technology

Material cost is a factor when going to high volumes. The FGF ( Fused Granule Fabrication ) technology of Dowell 3D has a clear economic benefit of making use of the standard thermoplastic pellets that injection molding uses as raw material as opposed to the expensive filament. The method has a considerable decrease in the cost of materials per part with deposition rates that give high throughput production. Together with our stringent material testing and certification, our manufacturers will be able to manufacture large quantities of parts using engineering grade and reinforced materials at a fraction of the price of filament based materials. The output is a production solution, which competes well with the traditional processes and gives more flexibility.

Scalable Production with Rapid Changeover Capability

The large scale production facilities require the possibility to scale fast and be able to respond to the shift in needs. The 3D printing of large size gives this scalability that is not limited by the traditional manufacturing. Using systems by Dowell 3D, manufacturers are able to increase production by adding new printers or by utilizing the current equipment to a greater extent without the need to wait until new tooling is received. More crucially, the design modifications that are either expensive and time consuming to execute in the traditional manufacturing process can be made immediately in the digital workflow. We constantly improve our software, which means that production parameters will always be optimized regardless of the scale, and our technical team will support the system to facilitate the effective production of products with a consistent quality as time goes by.

Reduced Inventory and On-Demand Production Economics

The traditional high volume production usually demands the manufacturers to predict demand, keeping a large amount of finished goods stock, which hold a capital and poses a risk of obsolescence. The 3D printing of large scale allows another economic model, on demand production. Using the large format printers of Dowell 3D, the production companies can now manufacture in large quantities depending on the need, which means less warehousing and the company will spend less on holding inventory. The method is especially useful when the demand in industries is volatile, the products are customized with different variations, or the product lifecycle is lengthy and it is inefficient to keep an inventory. These capabilities of creating just in time, along with the abolition of the tooling costs, result in a production model that is economically efficient and operationally flexible.

High volume production Large format 3D printing is a smart investment because it eliminates the tooling cost, lowers the material cost by FGF technology, allows scalable and responsive production, and changes the inventory economics. Our versatile, flexible, and cost effective industrial solutions, supported by our experience in the FDM and FGF technologies, advanced material certification, and quick technical response, place the manufacturers in the position to compete successfully in the current dynamic production environment at Dowell 3D. And, regardless of the scale of your additive manufacturing work, be it production of end use components, tooling, or components, our large format printing platforms and experienced engineering team is prepared to assist you in achieving the economic and operational advantages of additive manufacturing to high volume products.