3D printing services include professional creation of prototypes, components, and finished products on behalf of clients using 3D printing technology. Companies offering such services have specialised equipment and materials to produce products in a wide range of materials, such as polymers, metals, ceramics, composites, and biocompatible materials for medical applications. 3D printing services are particularly popular for prototyping, low-volume production, product personalisation, and manufacturing complex components with unusual geometries that are difficult to manufacture using traditional methods.
3D Printing Services (in Polymers, Metals, and Other Materials)
Type of technology
Description of the technology
Basic elements
- Prototyping: Quick creation of conceptual models and prototypes to test functionality.
- Low-volume production: Creating small batches of products with custom geometry and complexity.
- Product personalisation: Customising products to meet individual customer needs (e.g. medical implants and jewellery).
- Multi-material printing: Use of different types of materials in one printing process, such as polymers, metals, and ceramics.
- Post-processing: Additional processing steps for 3D prints, such as polishing, painting, anodising, and hardening.
Industry usage
- Automotive industry: Printing prototypes of interior components and exterior body panels.
- Medicine: Making biocompatible implants and anatomical models for surgical planning.
- Aviation industry: Creating complex aerospace components from high-strength metals.
- Fashion and design: Personalised accessories, jewellery, and interior design items.
- Education: Printing educational models for teaching and research purposes.
Importance for the economy
3D printing services are an important support for companies that do not have their own manufacturing infrastructure to handle advanced orders. By outsourcing 3D printing, companies can quickly execute prototypes and small production batches without investing in expensive equipment and materials. These services are particularly valuable to startups, engineering companies, and R&D departments, where rapid time-to-market and production flexibility are key to staying competitive.
Related technologies
Artificial Intelligence
Streamlining the process of selecting materials and optimising printing parameters.
Automation
Automatic preparation of models and printing processes for increased production efficiency.
Mechanism of action
- 3D printing services involve contracting a third-party company to produce a given design using additive technology. The process begins with the delivery of a 3D model in the form of a CAD file, which is then analysed for feasibility. The appropriate materials and printing technique (e.g. SLS, SLA, FDM, SLM) are selected and the model is prepared for printing. Once the printing process is complete, the printed parts undergo additional processing steps, such as support removal, grinding, painting, or heat treatment, depending on customer requirements.
Advantages
- Cost savings: No need to invest in machinery and maintain specialised equipment.
- Rapid prototyping: Ability to quickly create and test design concepts.
- Production flexibility: Fulfilment of orders of various sizes, from single prints to low-volume production.
- Access to advanced technologies: Ability to use different printing techniques and materials.
- Product personalisation: Tailoring products to specific customer needs and preferences.
Disadvantages
- Dependence on external providers: Risks related to the quality and timeliness of orders.
- Protection of intellectual property: Risk of stealing project files when uploading to external companies.
- Lack of control over the process: Limited control over quality and post-production processes.
- Unit costs: For small orders, costs can be higher compared to mass production.
- Limited availability of materials: No access to all the possible material combinations that are available in the in-house printing.
Implementation of the technology
Required resources
- Professional 3D printers: Equipment that enables printing in various technologies (SLA, SLS, FDM, SLM).
- A variety of materials: Polymers, metals, ceramics, composites, and biocompatible materials.
- 3D printing specialists: Engineers with experience in 3D printing and post-processing technology.
- Print preparation software: Tools for model analysis and STL file preparation.
- Production management systems: Software for planning and managing orders and production schedules.
Required competences
- CAD design: Ability to create 3D models in CAD programs.
- Knowledge of printing technology: Knowledge of various printing techniques and their applications.
- Post-processing: Ability to finish and process printed parts.
- Production management: Planning and organisation of printing processes in the context of various orders.
- Protection of intellectual property: Knowledge of design protection and secure file transfer.
Environmental aspects
- Raw material consumption: High demand for printing materials, depending on the type of order.
- Emissions of pollutants: Emissions from the operation of 3D printers and post-production processes.
- Waste generated: Problems with disposal of production waste and post-processing residues.
- Energy consumption: High energy demand due to large prints and thermal processing.
- Recycling: Limited recyclability of some materials used in advanced 3D printers.
Legal conditions
- Protection of intellectual property: Regulations for the protection of designs and files sent to third parties to prevent unauthorised copying and distribution.
- Regulations for 3D printing manufacturing: Standards for the safety and quality of products manufactured using 3D printing, especially in industries such as medicine, aerospace, and automotive.
- Certification of materials and processes: Certification requirements for printing materials and technologies used in specialised applications, such as medicine and the defence industry.
- Data protection regulations: Regulations for to the transmission and storage of designs and technical data (e.g. ITAR in the USA).
- Safety of use: Standards and regulations for the safe use of finished products, especially for functional components or those used in critical applications (e.g. mechanical parts in aviation).