As 3D printing has become more and more mainstream, the traditional resource and skills barriers for manufacturing are all but vanishing. This trend is changing the very face of design. For the first time, producing complex products is no more difficult, expensive, or time-consuming than making simpler objects. 3D printing a block with holes, notches, and rounded edges is as approachable as printing a solid block once was. The 3D printers give designers unprecedented control over the shape and composition of matter. High-end 3D printers can combine multiple materials into arbitrary patterns at a high resolution, leading to the ability to create geometry with fidelity and complexity never before seen. Traditionally, making more complex objects required a heavy investment in time, equipment, energy, and labor. Now, the cost of adding an additional design feature is reduced, potentially triggering nothing short of a manufacturing revolution similar to the first industrial revolution triggered when the cost of power was similarly diminished. And as 3D printing evolves, these products can be produced quickly and produced in bulk. The Factory of the Future is Here Now Manufacturers are finding applications for additive manufacturing that go beyond experimentation—and that instead are relevant, practical, and profitable. According to a [...]

As 3D printing has become more and more mainstream, the traditional resource and skills barriers for manufacturing are all but vanishing. This trend is changing the very face of design. For the first time, producing complex products is no more difficult, expensive, or time consuming than making simpler objects. 3D printing a block with holes, notches, and rounded edges is as approachable as printing a solid block once was. The 3D printers give designers unprecedented control over the shape and composition of matter. High-end 3D printers can combine multiple materials into arbitrary patterns at a high resolution, leading to the ability to create geometry with fidelity and complexity never before seen. Traditionally, making more complex objects required a heavy investment in time, equipment, energy, and labor. Now, the cost of adding an additional design feature is reduced, potentially triggering nothing short of a manufacturing revolution similar to the first industrial revolution triggered when the cost of power was similarly diminished. And as 3D printing evolves, these products can be produced quickly and produced in bulk. The Factory of the Future is Here Now Manufacturers are finding applications for additive manufacturing that go beyond experimentation—and that instead are relevant, practical, and profitable. According to [...]

As the adoption of additive manufacturing processes continues to take hold in aviation, with leaders like Airbus incorporating hundreds of printed parts on their new generation aircraft, and Boeing production lines, we’re starting to recognize a next level of maturity in how regulations are being implemented to accommodate for these changes. Airline carriers are beginning to use additive manufacturing to reduce inventory and alleviate supply chain constraints, but there is no better example of 3D printing’s robust and flexible usage than on the design of aircraft interiors. Many airlines understand that the accommodating comfort and offering a differentiated passenger experience are central to their customer’s loyalty and provide a lasting impression for their brand. This is one area that many carriers spare no expense or effort in order to create the refined and distinct cabin experiences that their customers demand. And while every part on an aircraft must meet strict airworthiness standards, the lower criticality of interior components allows for the effective introduction of additive manufacturing to enable customization of interior components cost effectively for the first time. As manufacturers look to the future to define how 3D printing and connected processes can better meet their business demands and reduce supply chain complexities, [...]