Let's just get one thing out of the way – additive manufacturing is expensive, okay? Stick a 3D printed part side-by-side with a machined or injection moulded part and it's unlikely going to emerge victorious when it comes to cost. There are exceptions, of course, but it's why the topic of value is so crucial to understanding where AM's advantages deliver economic sense.
We've already talked through best practices for selecting the right parts for AM; here, with insights from Kristin Mulherin, Director of Additive Manufacturing Technology at Hubbell, we look at how to weigh up their value.
STEP 1
WHY 3D PRINTING?
Start with a question: What problem are you trying to solve? Is it speed? Cost? Low volumes? Customisation? If you're not looking to gain anything from using AM, it will be much harder to make the case for its value.
