Did you know that 3D printing technology goes back to the 1980s? A tech called stereolithography marks the origin of 3D printing, which was invented by American, Charles “Chuck” Hull in the year 1984. Yep, this technology is now about 40 years old!

But that is not the only fascinating thing about 3D printing’s history! This crazy tech found its inception in an idea in a short story!

In the year 1945, Murray Lienster, a sci-fi writer, wrote a short story called “Things Pass By”, in which a character clearly expressed the desire of wanting a machine that could create a three-dimensional rendering of their paintings with the help of a moving robotic arm and molten plastic.

Just like that story, the history of 3D printing is quite rich with several inventors coming up with the idea or a prototype for it, which they filed a patent for, but it never really materialised. Until Charles “Chuck” Hull of course.

But enough about the history of 3D printing! Let’s talk about how this technology is shaping the manufacturing process of industrial tools, shall we? Here we go!

How 3D printing is revolutionising the manufacturing process of industrial tools 

3D printing has now reached a stage where it can pretty much create elaborate prototypes (and even finished products for that matter) with unparalleled ease. The latest 3D printing machines are very efficient now and are completely capable of handling complex tasks, which makes them rife for taking the industrial tool manufacturing process to the next level.

Understanding the manufacturing potential of 3D printing

Because of their effectiveness, 3D printing machines are now also known as additive manufacturing systems. Okay mind you, these are the industrial 3D printers, which are pretty powerful. Your standard home 3D printer will not get the same title.

That said, quite a few industrial 3D printers make use of materials such as metals, plastic, or even composites to create a model layer by layer. This addition of layer on top of a layer to build a model is what gives it the nomenclature of an ‘additive’ manufacturing system.

This way of 3D rendering is actually very effective. Not only does it reduce waste, but it also considerably shortens the production cycle, thus ensuring a faster turnaround time for new tool prototypes.

Plus, it also allows for the creation of highly complex and intricate designs, which actually adds to its versatility. You can even make complex internal structures, which is a boon for the tool industry as the insides of any tool can get really complex! Besides, it also gives the engineers and designers the flexibility to really push the boundaries of a more traditional manufacturing process so they can come up with innovative tools that weren’t seen or heard of before.

And you know what that means! Industrial tools suppliers in UAE like us can then get you the latest innovations in the market!

What makes 3D printing efficient and cost-saving

One of the great advantages that 3D printing machines bring to the industrial tool manufacturing scene is how easily they can streamline the whole process. Especially when compared to the traditional manufacturing process.

In a standard manufacturing process, items have to go through multiple steps before turning into the final product. This includes creating parts, soldering them, assembling them, etc. Each part of a tool goes through its own journey. An expensive journey if you ask us.

With 3D printing though, this journey isn’t necessary. 3D printers can directly create the final tool. No extras required. This is what makes them both time and money-saving.

Another benefit is the ability of 3D printers to fulfill on-demand manufacturing. For many businesses, having a ready inventory at all times can get really expensive. More so because you need storage space to house that inventory.

However, with 3D printing, companies can build tools as and when they need them, thus reducing the chances of an inventory excess or the risk of an unsold inventory. Don’t worry. Your favourite industrial tool supplier in UAE will still have the tools you need when you need them.

Finally, rapid prototyping as well as design optimisation of industrial tools with 3D printing is a breeze. Any design can be quickly crafted and tested to determine if it can be introduced into the market. And if it is, the turnaround time for getting that tool to the market is much quicker. This gives companies the first-mover advantage, which can be very beneficial.

Wrapping up…

With all of the benefits that 3D printing brings to the manufacturing process of industrial tools, it’s all set to become the next big thing. We see a really bright future ahead for 3D printing. We think it’ll become the standard manufacturing process pretty soon. Till it does though, we are more than happy to meet all of your industrial tool needs, whether the tools you need are made the traditional way or the 3D printing way!