TCT Show 2017
The plethora of additive manufacturing (AM) expositions to come in 2018 will represent an opportunity to view the latest AM offerings. There's always a buzz at events emanating from those thrilled by what’s new and excited by the applications and opportunities to leverage AM that these announcements enable.
This being the case, there will be some temptation to act impulsively, allowing the excitement to override caution. If you sense that you are falling into this trap, or that others in your organisation have been mesmerised with the latest thing in AM, I recommend that you curb your enthusiasm, at least momentarily. The reality is that all things new are relatively untested, and therefore, carry an inherent level of risk to those for early adopters.
I have yet to be exposed to a new technology that did not have some surprises in store for its users. Often, the surprises are minor or manageable, but in a few cases, they have been devastating. The surprises will result from one of three conditions: 1) tiny user population to validate vendor claims, declarations and disclosures; 2) limited scope of operations to determine what works and when; and 3) the unpredictable, and therefore unexpected.
The potential of surprises should not eliminate a new product from consideration. The outcomes and rewards can far exceed the inherent risk. But you must assess your risk threshold, will marginal or poor results jeopardise careers, AM initiatives, corporate goals or business operations? Is your company generally risk averse? If “Yes” then a sizeable investment in a new AM technology may be ill-advised. However, if the threats are acceptable, proceed with a thorough investigation.
Since the surprises can crop up anywhere, you should, to the best of your ability, investigate everything. Herein lies the challenge: since the technology is new, we have no baseline from which to build the investigation. So you will have to be diligent in ferreting out the facts that will drive your decision. Examinations should include: hardware (reliability, failure modes and real performance), software (functionality and limitations), materials (availability and processing challenges), output quality (properties, finish and accuracy plus any dependency on part size or shape), training (what is needed and what is available), and required supporting equipment (all tools needed for the end-to-end process).
Consider the maturity of the technology; determine if it is in alpha testing, beta testing, limited launch or full commercialisation. In the past, buyers have been led to believe that they were purchasing a fully commercialised solution only to discover that they had become a late-stage beta site. You should also confirm if you are eligible to receive, free of charge, any updates or modifications deployed to resolve any of the unexpected surprises.
To unearth the facts, talk to users and put the technology through its paces. Even though the user population is tiny, it is still the best source of information. Talk to as many test sites and commercial installs as you can. Along with an honest assessment of the technology, you will also want to determine the supplier’s receptiveness to feedback from testing and how responsive it was in implementing fixes. If the supplier resists in supplying user names or offers just a few “cherry picked” accounts that will only sing its praises, my advice is to postpone a buying decision until you can find a decent number of credible information sources.
Get your FREE print subscription to TCT Magazine.
Exhibit at the UK's definitive and most influential 3D printing and additive manufacturing event, TCT 3Sixty.
To put the technology through its paces, have benchmark parts made. Ideally, but often not feasible, visit the supplier while benchmarks are being made. This allows you to witness the process, which will enhance your knowledge and spark unthought-of questions. Witnessing the process also assures that there was no sleight of hand in the making of your parts.
If you are a cautious sort like me, there is a way to discover the facts while enjoying the benefits of a new technology without risk. Use a service bureau. The parts you receive will demonstrate the technology’s capabilities. The added benefit is that service bureaux are often very open to sharing what they have discovered during the install, implementation and operation of the technology.
After assessing your risk threshold and investigating the new technology, be confident in moving forward. I have penned this article not to squash your enthusiasm but to curb it momentarily to allow a thoughtful, logic-driven decision.
