Prototyping and Printing Your Smart Solutions
What's additive manufacturing?
Additive manufacturing is the process of creating an object by building it one layer at a time. Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, makes it easier to create small quantities of an item, with high quality, the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs, and small or growing businesses.
How does it work?
Prototypes & Solutions
Technically, additive manufacturing can refer to any process where a product is created by building something up, such as molding, but it typically refers to 3D printing. 3D printing is an innovative technology that lets you create a physical object from a digital model.
The 3D printing process was devised in the 1980s and was initially called ‘rapid prototyping’.
Instead of machining or “subtracting” material to form an object – much like how a sculptor cuts away clay – 3D printing adds layer upon layer of material to build an object. Product designers and engineers upload a digital (CAD) file to a 3D printer, which then prints a solid 3D object.
Who's it for?
The advantages of additive manufacturing are vast
With traditional manufacturing, setup costs mean producing small quantities is not cost-effective. In comparison, additive manufacturing setup costs are minimal, so creating just a handful of objects becomes more reasonable.
Without the setup costs of creating a new product, entrepreneurs can quickly manufacture objects, parts, and solutions to see if they work as needed. If they don’t, they can iterate and try again, all using additive manufacturing, until they find a product that does.
Businesses should evaluate whether Additive Manufacturing and Near Field Communication can be part of their business models. 3DNFC is focused on delivering Smart Solutions and empowering both individuals and organizations to take control of their own design and manufacturing processes.