INDUSTRIAL USES OF 3D PRINTING

01 INDUSTRIAL USES OF 3D PRINTING UNIQUE PRINTS PREENTS

02 INTRODUCTION Adoption of 3D printing has reached critical mass as those who have yet to integrate additive manufacturing somewhere in their supply chain are now part of an ever-shrinking minority. Where 3D printing was only suitable for prototyping and one- off manufacturing in the early stages, it is now rapidly transforming into a production technology.

03 AUTOMOTIVE Car manufacturers have been utilizing 3D printing for a long time. Automotive companies are printing spare parts, tools, jigs and fixtures but also end-use parts. 3D printing has enabled on- demand manufacturing which has lead to lower stock levels and has shortened design and production cycles.

04 AVIATION The aviation industry uses 3D printing in many different ways. The following example marks a significant 3D printing manufacturing milestone: GE Aviation has 3D printed 30,000 Cobalt- chrome fuel nozzles for its LEAP aircraft engines. They achieved that milestone in October of 2018, and considering that they produce 600 per week on forty 3D printers, it’s likely much higher than that now.

05 CONSTRUCTION Most of the concrete printing stories we look at on this website are focused on large scale concrete printing systems with fairly large nozzles for a large flow rate. It’s great for laying down concrete layers in a fairly quick and repeatable manner. But for truly intricate concrete work that makes full use of the capabilities of 3D printing requires something a little more nimble, and with a finer touch.

06 FOOTWEAR Adidas’ 4D range has a fully 3D printed midsole and is being printed in large volumes. Adidas were initially releasing just 5,000 pairs of the shoes to the public, and had aimed to sell 100,000 pairs of the AM-infused designs by 2018. With their latest iterations of the shoe, it seems that they have surpassed that goal, or are on their way to surpassing it. The shoes are available all around the world from local Adidas stores and also from various 3rd party online outlets.

UNIQUE PARTS Unique Prints aim to take the guesswork out www.uniqueprints.shop of buying 3D printer parts and components. We resource printer supplies from 15 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin Vic 3189 reputable suppliers within Australia and around the world and deliver them to you worldwide so that you can create a 3D 0414 695 465 printer of your choice.