3D printing is now mainstream within schools and businesses because of its flexibility and ability to unleash users’ creativity.

3D printing offers a fast, inexpensive way to create prototypes, test ideas, and even manufacture components and products for commercial sale or use.

This is triggering a change in the way organisations build and design their products. The results include cost reductions and the ability to improve products by applying design thinking principles such as latticing, part consolidation, and light weighting. On top of this, savings in supply-chains, product storage, and waste can be realised.

3D printing is maturing and changing quickly, and so too is the future of engineering and design. For example, the automotive industry can now benefit from much shorter lead times when using 3D printing, which allows for much faster development and testing of components.

As 3D printing technology evolves, and new materials are developed, products that were previously not viable to print because of size, accuracy and material constraints become feasible.

There has been a huge surge across the industry recently towards end-use parts. 3D printing’s ability to manufacture and combine parts has become more effective and is increasingly being integrated into an augmented manufacturing process.

For example, dentistry companies can embed 3D printing into manufacturing process to create digitally engineered molds for patients. 3D printing has made this process much more cost effective.

Eric Holtsmark, general manager – strategy, transformation and technology, Konica Minolta Australia, said, “The future of product development can also be aided by 3D printing. The design of consumer goods such as electronics depends heavily on current market needs. As these needs change, 3D printing not only offers manufacturers a way to adapt quickly by shortening the design stage, but also the ability to produce cost-effective short production runs to test the market, or offer customised versions of a product.

“Rapid prototyping in the pre-manufacturing stage lets businesses manufacture faster and reach markets sooner. Businesses also benefit from improved risk reduction and agility as they can study prototypes to reduce faults and optimise the product before it goes to market.”

To maximise and understand the freedom that 3D printing allows, the industries that will be directly impacted should invest time to rethink and rebuild their workflows and processes as they relate to the opportunities presented by 3D printing.

As these industries must keep up with a relentless pace of innovation, it is important for businesses to prepare their internal systems before they integrate 3D printing to ensure a smooth, successful adoption.

Likewise, education institutions must explore 3D printing technologies in more depth to prepare future designers and engineers for the realities of the future workplace.

3D printing will continue to evolve and cover more ground in manufacturing processes, so it is important that tomorrow’s workers are equipped with the expertise needed to drive the rapid development of end-use parts in manufacturing.

Eric Holtsmark says “the evolution of 3D printing can help to power the world of design, health, engineering and manufacturing, create new jobs and increase innovation on a global scale. Promoting sustainability, efficiency and innovation, 3D printing can deliver complex, accurate prototypes and end-use parts.”