Chances are, you’ve had something or seen something 3D printed in your life. 3D printing technology has come a long way since its initial arrival, but it has yet to revolutionize the manufacturing world. At Federal Gear, we’re on the forefront of the latest trends in gear manufacturing, but it’s still far more cost-efficient to use specifically designed machinery to manufacture our gears—at least for now.
So what exactly would be the pros and cons to using 3D printing for gear manufacturing?
The Pros
- Lower labor costs. You don’t need extensive training to operate a 3D printer. Accordingly, using a 3D printer for manufacturing can reduce the amount of hours you need to spend—and lower your labor costs in turn.
- Higher customization potential. 3D printing is highly flexible, meaning there’s higher potential for customization. When designing gears to be produced through 3D printing, there’s no limit to what you can create.
The Cons
- Material availability. While there are some types of plastic gears, most gears rely on metal or some other highly durable material. 3D printing hasn’t yet caught up to this need.
- Technology cost and advancement. Currently, 3D printers aren’t far along in their development; some equipment is cost-prohibitive, and some equipment simply isn’t advanced enough for precision manufacturing.
- Printing speeds. Though multiple 3D printers could conceivably speed up overall production, individual printing times are slow compared to traditional manufacturing processes.
If 3D printing gets better and less expensive, we’ll see about incorporating it into our production process. Until then, we have some of the most precise and cost-efficient equipment in the industry. If you’re ready to place an order or get a quote, you can contact us today!