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Is 3D printing environment friendly

3D Printing Environment Friendly

There is lot of buzz surrounding the fact that 3D printing is environment friendly and thus better adoption of this technology helps protect the environment. But all those claims aren’t yet scientifically proven. It is still not proven if 3D printing is really environment friendly. It has both positives and negatives and the jury will be out only after a clear pattern on adoption of 3D printing emerges. Right now, the industry is too nascent to ascertain if 3D printing is really environment friendly. In the article, we shall discuss the environmental impact of 3D printing.

Advantages of 3D printing over traditional manufacturing

(a) 3D printing help designers develop parts and products for better performance through reduction in product weight or longevity in product usage.

(b) 3D printing makes more efficient use of raw materials. 3D printing process places raw material only where it is needed.

(c) 3D printing reduces the total number of parts required for product assembly thereby shortening the supply chain.

(d) Finally, 3D printing can fabricate small batches of custom parts as and when those are required thereby reducing inventory.

3D printing and environmental impact

(a) 3D printers consume huge amount of electrical energy. Research has shown that 3D printers consume an estimated 50 to 100 times more electrical energy than injection molding to make an object of same weight.

(b) Current range of 3D printers rely heavily on plastics, not so environment friendly material. Industrial grade 3D printers that use powdered or molten polymers leave behind a substantial amount of unused raw material in the print bed.

(c) 3D printing requires materials to be heated to a very high temperature at which point the plastic releases some toxic fumes. Certain research done on 3D printing proved that 3D printers are high emitters of what are known as “ultra fine particles” or UFPs. Preliminary research has proven that continual exposure to UFPs is harmful but more research should be done to ascertain this fact.

Waste Generation in 3D printing vs. traditional manufacturing

Every product goes through a product life cycle. In traditional manufacturing, it mainly starts with mining of raw material. Mining is an environmentally devastating activity. Then comes assembly which requires transportation of products from one place to other wasting petroleum based fuel. Constructing, heating and cooling retail space takes a heavy toll on the environment as well. And the bigger waste happens when the object is thrown away.

With 3D printing technology, we can avoid all these. But 3D printing creates new kind of pollution – huge garbage generation. With the printer at our disposal and costs coming down, we tend to print on frequent basis for every small object of need and want. These objects may be used only once or twice and then thrown away. This creates huge wastage that needs to be proper recycled. With 3D printing, this entire product cycle (except the last step) can be made redundant. The supply chains become very short, no need to mine raw materials extensively and also no need for retail spaces to store the products thereby limiting the environmental damage.

The key to unleash 3D printing potential is to make the whole product life cycle green. Perhaps one of the 3D printing’s most promising environmental benefits will be the fact that computer-generated designs help improve a product’s form, function, performance and durability. For example, a 3D- printed metal airplane made of computer-designed, lightweight parts would consume less fuel during its lifetime of use.

3D printing and renewable energy

Renewable energy is key to greener manufacturing. However, most renewable energy sources today can’t provide the incessant, reliable stream of power needed to fuel mass-manufacturing operations. But with 3D printing, we need small bursts of energy only when the printer is running. If that small burst of energy can be provided through renewable energy sources then 3D printing product life cycle can be made greener.

A small manufacturing facility of the future could run several 3D printers, each making a wide variety of different products. This facility could be powered with set amount of renewable energy that would fuel scheduled start-and-stop 3D printed production runs. Someday, it would be great to see agile 3D-printing facilities that would rapidly adjust fabrication rates to the level of available renewable power, instead of other way round.

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3D Printing For Dummies

3D Printing For Dummies
3D Printing For Dummies

Now a days, there is lot of buzz about 3D printing and the endless possibilities it offers. Everyone from Barrack Obama to Jeff Bezos is talking about 3D printing these days. But what exactly is 3D printing? Is it really revolutionary? What are the various applications of 3D printing technology? What is the future of 3D printing? Here is quick guide to answer all those questions. At the end of the article, you shall get a basic understanding of 3D printing technology.

What is a 3D printer?

3D printer is a device to print three dimensional objects by depositing the material layer by layer. All one needs to do is connect the 3D printer to computer, load the 3D model and print. 3D printers are remarkable because they can produce different kinds of objects, in different materials, all from the same machine.

A 3D printer can make everything from ceramic cups to plastic toys, metal machine parts, stoneware vases, pizzas, chocolate cakes and even human body parts. They replace traditional factory production lines with a single machine just like home inkjet printers replaced bottles of ink, printing press, hot metal type and a drying rack.

Why is it called printing?

Technically speaking, 3D printing is called “Additive Manufacturing” as the objects are built by adding layers of plastic. But as the objects are created from scratch, much like 2D printed objects, the process got a colloquial name “3D Printing” as it is an extension of “2D Printing Process”. The other term for 3D printing is “Rapid Prototyping” as the three dimensional objects are built in a short span of time.

How do 3D printers work?

The most important input for a 3D printer is the 3D design. One starts off by designing a 3D object on an ordinary home PC using various 3D modeling softwares like AutoCAD, Catia. Once the design is created, it is given as an input to the 3D printer, press print and just sit back and watch.

When you press “print”, the 3D printing process turns the whole object into thousands of tiny little slices and then makes the object from bottom-up, slice by slice. Those tiny layers stick together to form a solid object. Each layer can be very complex. For 3D printer, the complexity of the design is not a subject of concern. 3D Printers can create moving parts like hinges and wheels as part of the same object and one can print a whole bike – handlebars, saddle, frame, wheels, brakes, pedals and chain – ready assembled, without using any tools.

Opportunities in 3D printing space

Imagine you have broken a tool and the spare parts aren’t available in the market to fix that broken tool or it is very difficult to get access to that tool, then the only option so far is to throw that tool and buy a new one. But with 3D printing, you can design the spare part in the computer, print it using 3D printer and fix it to the object. The fact that we can print almost anything at home provides endless possibilities and create a world very different from the one we are used to. It is a world that doesn’t need vehicles to deliver goods or warehouses to store those goods. It is a world where nothing is ever out of stock and where there is less waste, packaging and pollution.

It also creates a world where customized objects can be create made to measure to specific requirements. It means we can print shoes specific to our feet, make furniture specific to our home, customized meals specific to our tastes, all at the touch of the button. But you might be wondering it is also possible now. It is true but it is possible only if you are super wealthy. 3D printing democratizes that process making the whole process highly affordable.

What are the limitations?

As it stands now (in 2014), there are various limitations for 3D printing limiting its adoption by consumers. Although owning a 3D printer is no longer very expensive, the cost per item one produces is higher. So, most consumers prefer the mass produced goods. Once the cost of materials come down (which happens when there is a good adoption of 3D printing in the market) then there will be a switch towards 3D printing.

Secondly, the object finish isn’t as smooth as of industrial machines, nor offer the variety of materials or range of sizes available through industrial processes. It takes some more R&D effort to create a smooth finish. Thirdly, the kind and type of materials that can be used through 3D printer are highly limited and are no match to the possibilities offered by industrial printers. Finally, the speed of printer is limited. It takes lot of time to print an object using 3D printer.

But like many household technologies, it is matter of time before the capabilities improve, technologies mature, prices come down bringing the benefits to the masses.

Is it the next big thing?

For now, many product designers and engineers are find good usage of 3D printers. They find this technology to be really beneficial for their day to day work. But the same can’t be said for others. The technology has to evolve before individual consumer find real benefit of 3D printing technology. The industry hype for this technology is few years ahead of the actual reality. It is an emerging technology which means most remain skeptical about needing one until everyone has got one and then all wonder how they ever managed without these printers.

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LumiPocket Miniature DLP 3D Printer Review

The 3D printing industry is changing at a very fast pace. From making prototypes to printing houses and cars, 3D printing has expanded its capability quite a lot in the last few years! If we see the 3D printing industry about two to three years ago we would see that 3D printers were used for trifle jobs like prototyping or replicating objects but now they are being used in the mainstream industries and for mainstream works.

In the past we have seen 3D printers that are capable of printing objects with a large volume but what if there is a requirement for printing small objects like rings, dental molds or any other jewelry. Although these objects can be printed with the help of any normal 3D printer but the catch is that the resolution should be impeccable. So in order to resolve this problem there is a new printer on the block which is known as the LumiPocket 3D printer. It is the smallest portable 3D printer that comes with the assurance of high quality 3D printing experience.

One of the developers of the LumiPocket Marin Davide said, “Last year we developed the first foldable and portable 3D printer, the LumiFold. Now we are a startup and we just launched a new improved version, the Lumipocket, more precise, easier to use and with a design made in collaboration with design experts. It is designed to be low cost and easy to use.”

In order to raise money for the project Davide and his team went for help to the famous crowdfunding site Indiegogo campaign. The goal for the campaign was fixed at $50, 000; the campaign will be on air till November 18th, 2014. The team has decided to give away their new LumiPocket free to all the early supporters to the campaign.

Here are some specifications of this machine:

  • Z resolution of 50/100 micron
  • 50 / 100 x and y resolution depending on the projector used
  • 100mm diameter and 100mm tall building area
  • Tested with SpotGP and Fun To Do resins
  • Ideal layer times 3000ms-8000ms

The company bets that the LumiPocket is the most user friendly and ready to use 3D printer that has ever come up in the market. All that the user has to do is load the .STL file into their software and click on the print button. The software itself is quite self- sufficient it can take care of slicing, GCode creation and all the other features. The software has 3D printable templates that anyone can modify and use.

The Indiegogo site has many level for backers, they range from $25 to $799. The company is also offering its first 20 backers with sans projector (fully assembled) worth $379. Once the first 20 sell out the rest of the items shoot up to $399 for the assembled version and the unassembled version comes for $379. For the price of $429 one can buy their own customized LumiPocket with the name of the owner and the logo of the company inscribed on the machine.

The printer is expected to do well as there is a high demand for DLP 3D printers in the market. Hopefully the printer will fare well in the existing 3D printing market.

Source: http://3dprint.com/17868/lumipocket-dlp-3d-printer/

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Modular MM1 3D Printer Review

In the 3D printing market we see that every single day a new 3D printer is being launched. Add a few features here and there Voilà you have new 3D printer all set to be launched in the Kickstarter campaign. But occasionally there are 3D printers that offer state of the art features. In this article I will be discussing a similar 3D printer that is betting to be highly customized and is multi- functional. Apart from this, the printer is expected to extrude a broad range of materials and also offer a broad range of tools.

On October 2nd, 2014 a Mexico based company named Makermex introduced a new 3D printer named MM1 Modular 3D Printing System in the Kickstarter campaign. Now if we go to the market to buy a 3D printer there is a wide variety of 3D printers from which we can choose. Printers with one extrusion head to printers that can extrude multiple materials. The MM1 Modular 3D Printing System is extraordinary because it has interchangeable extrusion heads which are complimented by a wide range of additional accessories which allow the user to upgrade the machine with much ease. This feature enables the user to transform the machine as technology advances.

The technical specifications of the printer are as follows:

  • Printer Dimensions: 49 x 37.5 x 49 cm
  • Weight: 11 kg
  • Build area: 20 x 20 x 20 cm
  • Resolution: 20 microns (0.02 mm)
  • Speed: 300 mm/s
  • Supported Materials: ABS, PLA, flexible PLA, conductive material, wood-based filament, nylon, polycarbonate, chocolate, Play-Doh, ceramic, plasticine clay and much more
  • Multiple printer linking abilities using structural connector system
  • Compatible with any Windows, Mac or Linux-based operating system
  • Supports and uses open source software

The printer comes with a wide range of add-on accessories such as:

  • High-temperature extruder for nylon, polycarbonate, etc.
  • Paste extruder for chocolate, Play-Doh, ceramic, and other pastes for experimenting
  • Dual extrusion system for bi-color and support material
  • Flexible extrusion system for optimizing soft filaments
  • Auto-leveling bed for beginners and children
  • Heated bed attachment

Owner of MakerMex Sam Weatherly said, “We’re modeling this printer after the Automotive Industry, or even like IKEA, in the sense that we’re providing a unique, customizable experience for those interested in 3D printing. Because it prints with multiple extrusion options in many different materials, the MM1 really is the perfect printer for just about anyone. You can print with chocolate one minute and PLA plastics the next – the possibilities are inspiring.”

Unlike other printers the MM1 can print in a wide range of materials such as ABS, standard PLA, and flexible PLA, wood-based filament and so on and so forth. Not only the product but the company website is quite unique from flaunting its long range of features from a web based CAD tool to selling of filaments for 3D printers, the website is fully loaded.

The company has fixed the price of this printer at $999 which could be quite expensive for some but looking at the fact that the printer can work with multiple materials and has the option of up gradation the price seems to be a fair one. So if you have the big bucks start backing the new MM1 Modular 3D Printing System.

Go through various 3D printer reviews here.

source: http://www.inside3dp.com/meet-mm1-3d-printer-prints-wood-plastics-ceramic-foods/

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Ways in which 3DP is changing the world – Fall Edition

350$ 3D Printed Myoelectric Prosthetic Arm fills joy in a 6 year old’s life
3D printing Low cost customized prosthetics can help out “differently abled” people to overcome their restraints and embrace a life full of possibilities.

Off late the 3DP industry has become very dynamic. Everyday there is a new invention being made and the horizon of 3DP technology is broadening. All these enhancements that have been brought about with the help of 3D printing has redefined our world to a great extent. To support the spread of this technology many small supporting industries are sprouting all over the place. A 3D printer alone cannot function it or even if it needs functions, it requires support of additional devices like scanners. So companies that manufacture filaments and scanner are also booming.

In this article we will see the top 9 ways by which 3D printing is influencing the world.

For Students

A technology like this will be at disposal for engineers to create interesting products. A few years back, talking about technology gave the impression of being a geek but now the story has changed. 3D printing technology has made all this very cool, it make the manufacture feel like God! Many organizations are coming forward with an effort to collaborate this technology with the educational sector. Many of you must be thinking that this is the case only in developed countries but this is happening all over the world. Many colleges, universities as well as schools have accepted this technology wholeheartedly and have also decided to put it in their curricula.

With the help of this encouragement from universities many students have come up with groundbreaking devices such as 3D printing of a vending machine like Innovation Station. Many programs are taking place to promote this technology among the commoners like EuroMold 2014 and the TCT Bright Minds.

With all these efforts, 3D printing is becoming an area of interest for engineers.

Healthcare

I think that the healthcare sector is one of those industries that are getting addicted to this technology. Be it prosthetics or manufacturing of artificial organs, 3D printing plays a pivotal role.

Off late the news of 16 years old boy Bradley was going viral in the 3DP market. He was born with a tumor in his heart. In his short life span of 16 years he had been in and out of the hospital a lot of times. Since the operation was quite an elaborate one with a lot of complications the doctors 3D printed the model of his heart in order to determine the course of action to be taken during the operation. The operation was successful and now Bradley leads a very normal life without the irregular heart beat caused by the tumor. This is just one example of the important role that 3d printing is playing the healthcare sector.

 Wedding Industry

3D printing is helping the wedding industry to transform leaps and bounds. Right from the customized figurines to be placed at the top of the wedding cakes to the marriage rings, 3D printing is giving the wedding industry a much customized look. Recently we read about a man who brought stone from the moon and incorporated the stone on his wedding ring. The wedding ring was 3D printed and designed by a company named Mind 2 Matter.

Fashion Industry

When we thought that we have explored all that could be done with a 3D printer, we got this shocking yet interesting news that fashion designers all over the world are using this technology to manufacture runway clothes for their collection. The spread of this usage has spread far and wide from Russia to New York. The main attraction of this amalgamation is that the designs that are produced by a 3D printer are something that would have never been possible if the traditional methods were employed.

Not only garments but various accessories are also being made with the help of a 3D printer. From customized spectacles to customized shoes 3D printing is turning the fashion industry upside down and this time it is for the good.

Movie Making Industry

Many of us are big fans of animated movies but very few of us know how difficult it is to create such characters. 3D printing has made it very easy. Many charactera in animation movies these days are actually 3D printed. 3D printing technology has brought about many changes in this industry that are quite warm and welcoming. Most of the special effects that are being created by the makers of the film are done with the help of this technology. With the help of a ProJet 660Pro 3D printer by 3D Systems, the artists at Laika were able to make face plates for characters. This also gave them the liberty to make new faces by adding some variations to these plates. This is how the film Box Trolls came into existence.

Culinary Industry

Cooking meals like the Jetsons was on my mind since childhood but in reality something like this was not possible. But last year when I heard about printers like Foodini and ChefJet I was so impressed that I really wanted to own one of these printers. The market is now filled with 3D printers that can manufacture food like cakes, chocolates and various other things. Sugar confectionaries are the best when 3D printed but it will take a lot of time for a food printer to become a kitchen appliance.

World of Art

The world of fine arts is being influenced by 3D printing in more than one dimension. From manufacturing fine jewelry to making of clap sculpture, 3D printing is the showstopper. There are many shows and exhibits that are displaying 3D art. The exhibitors are also encouraging the public to join workshops and get to know the technology. Galleries like The Usher Gallery in UK allows the public to download 3D files and 3D print images from the Lincoln 3D Scans.

Environment Industry

One of the biggest problem in the world is that of garbage disposal. Every year there are millions of plastics that are being manufactured to satisfy the demand of plastics in supermarkets and malls. This plastic eventually lands up in the ocean or in some landfill. Now 3DP technology is helping to bring about some changes in this field too. The plastic garbage that lies in the sea is being used to made 3D filament. This is being done by a company named Studio Swine which is based in UK. This effort will not only help bring a new type of filament into the market but also reduce the problem of garbage which is resulting in the contamination of the sea water.

Space Industry

NASA as well as many private companies have used this technology to empower their missions into space. Recently the news of a 3D printer going into space was in news. The name of the printer is the Zero-G 3D printer. This printer was on board of the space shuttle named SpaceX Dragon.

This printer can print objects even in zero gravity. The printer performed so well in the tests conducted by NASA that within a year the printer was sitting in the International Space Station.

Also Read: 3D Printing in India

Source: http://3dprint.com/16606/fall-2014-3d-printing-changing-world/

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Prices of 3D Printers in India

Making money through 3D printing
Making money through 3D printing

India had a slow start in 3D printing technology when compared to other countries but picked up fast in the last few years. The country famous for Taj Mahal and rich Indian cuisine, is now trying to earn a name in this new field. The sole hindrance inhibiting the adoption of 3D printing in India is the price. 3D printers are very expensive for Indian standards. On an average, a machine costs somewhere around 2 – 5 lacs. In this article, we shall talk about prices of 3D printers in India and also the point of view of some people directly involved in this industry.

Prices of 3D printers in India:

3D printers in India can be broadly categorized into 3 sections – (a) Imported Desktop Printers (b) Locally manufactured Desktop Printers (c) Imported Industrial Printers. There aren’t any companies manufacturing industrial 3D printers in India.

(a) Imported Desktop Printers:  Most customers in India opt for Imported Desktop Printers as these printers offer best price – performance combination. There are many desktop level printer manufacturers in the world, namely Ultimaker, Makerbot, Flashforge, UP Plus 2. These companies manufacture good quality 3D printers at a good price point. To import these printers, Indian customers have to pay 25% customs duty on top of product price and shipping costs. As most printers are above 2000 USD, these shipments go under cargo mode and thus one has to appoint a customs clearance agent to clear the shipments. The whole process is bit tedious and requires a company like ours to handle the entire process. Also, most manufacturers don’t possess BIS certification, a must to import electronics into India. All in all, it isn’t all that easy to import 3D printers to India for an individual.

(b) Locally manufactured Desktop Printers: There are various companies in India manufacturing 3D printers. These companies are doing a great job coming up with interesting printers. But as the market for 3D printers is very limited in India, these companies don’t have automated or semi-automated processes to manufacture 3D printers. Thus the price-performance combination of Indian 3D printers isn’t as good as of international ones.

There are four names that are well associated with 3D printing in India. Nitin Gandhi is the founder of a company named LBD Makers. This company is based out of Chandigarh and has sold more than five entry level 3D printers since January 2014. These printers lie in the price range of Rs. 75, 000 and Rs. 1.5 lacs. Gandhi said, “My clients include colleges and hobbyists. I am also getting inquiries from ‘maker spaces, where such hobbyists hold their meetings.”

Nikhil Velpanur and Arvind Nadig co- founded the Bangalore based company named Brahma3 in August 2013. The 3D printer made by the company is the Brahma3 Anvil 3D printer which is priced at 1, 00,000INR. The target audiences for this printer are small offices, architects, designers and similar professionals. Nadig said, “We manufactured our 3D printer from the scratch. Other Indian 3D printer manufacturers are mostly resellers of do-it- yourself (DIY) kits or have assembled them with parts from China, or imported the printers that cost 4 lacs INR and more.”

Karan Chaphekar founded the Mumbai based company KCbots in 2013, before setting up the company Karan was building and selling RepRap 3D printers. The printers that are made by this company are the KUBE and the KUBE Mini 3D printer.

Angad Daryani who is a young lad of 15 years based in Mumbai is all set to launch a new range of 3D printers named SharkBot. The price of the printer would be somewhere around 20, 000INR. The website of this child genius reads, “Here at Shark Industries, we took up the challenge to build a robust, low cost and presentable 3D printer. We had shut down the firm for one year since our products development wasn’t satisfying. We’re coming back with a products line which is sure to hit the market hard.” Angad plans to set the printer on retail on his father computer peripherals business named Kunhar Peripherals Pvt. Ltd.

(c) Imported Industrial Printers: 

Apart from desktop printers, there are industrial printers which are quite useful in factories. Such printers are being made by companies like Stratasys, MakerBot and other foreign 3D printing companies. Stratasys has partnered with Altem Technologies Pvt. Ltd. which is the reseller of Stratasys 3D printers in India. The cost of these printers in Indian currency amounts to 3 crore INR, the price depends on the volume of manufacturing that is to be done as well as the quality of the material that is being used. Till now the company has sold over 100 3D printers. According to an unnamed source at the Altem Technologies Pvt. Ltd. these industrial 3D printers manufactured by Stratasys can make almost about everything right from jewelry to toothbrushes, from racing car parts to customized cakes! The 3D printers made by this company can make everything from prototype drone wings to robotic exoskeleton for children.

3DP technology has been floating in the market for the past three decades but the technology has entered the mainstream in the last two to three years time. In India the technology has come afloat with basic 3D printers, especially DIY printing kits which are being sold like hot cakes to hobbyists and small companies. The prices of these printers range from 40, 000INR to 1.5 lacs INR.

There has been an immense transformation in the field of 3D printing since 1984. From prototyping machines to mainstream manufacturer, 3D printing has taken the world by storm.  A research firm named Gartner Inc issued a report on 10th October 2013 in which it has been forecasted that there would be an increase in the worldwide shipments of 3D printers, the prices of 3D printers would come down and the growth in the selling of 3D printers would increase to 49%. In the report it is also mentioned that in the developed economies of the Asia- Pacific region, the shipments of 3D printers has already touched 3, 817 units in 2013 and by the year 2017 this figure is expected to be 70, 295 units.

In India the 3D printing market is at a very tender stand and most of the printers that are being used in the market are being done by small companies that too for verifying industrial design and not for mass production. As per Viral Sachde, founder of Cycloid System, a 3D printing company that supplies 3D printers to educational institutions and companies says, “Our clients are typically those who want to do industrial prototyping and want to make 5- 10 units for using the field. Most of the 3D printers in India are of the thermoplastic variety and are used for customization of products in smaller volume.”

Meanwhile the analysts of the 3D printing market say that prices of the basic 3D printers are expected to fall and come down to almost 45, 000 INR in the next five years. If the prices fall to this level, then the price of a 3D printer would be equivalent to the price of an average laser jet printer today.

Also Read: List of various 3D printers in India

Sources: http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/5fmCBQ9b62aSHKsAh4lZYI/Indian-market-sees-promise-in-3D-printers.html

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Potential Uses of 3D Printing Technology in India

3D Printing in India
3D Printing in India

The evolution of 3DP technology has been humungous. Right from the time Charles Hull built the first commercial 3D printer in 1984 to the year 2014; 3D printers have developed from prototyping machines to a life changing technology. Many companies have saved million of dollars by using this technology in their production process. In developed economies like the United States of America, China, Germany, Australia and other European countries 3D printing has found its base in a wide range of industries. Though the technology has entered the Indian market very recently there are many areas where the 3D printing technology can be used to save time as well as reduce the hazards of the existing sector.

In this article we will talk about the various potential uses of 3D printing exclusively in the Indian context.

Aerospace:

In other countries 3D printing has helped the aerospace industry to a great extent especially in cutting down the money that was spent by the industry every year on procuring the spare parts. For prototyping of spares the aerospace industry heavily depends on Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Technology. The industry chose this technology over the SLA technology as the parts that are produced by this technology use thermoplastic of a higher performance. On the other hand if flexible fixtures are to be made then PolyJet 3D printing is preferred.

Off late India has started to manufacture 3D printers. So if the aerospace industry can seek help from these 3D printer manufacturers and individuals to develop a 3D printer that could cater to the needs of the industry then it would be a win- win situation for both the parties. It would also boost the economy of India.

Construction and Architecture:

The biggest problem in a big country like India is that of food and shelter. Companies in China, Amsterdam and US have used 3D printing to build fast, cheap as well as durable homes. The homes that were built in China were built in less than 24 hours. If implemented properly 3D printing could be the answer to the governments housing problems in various developing countries like India.

This technology can also be used by architects in order to give their ideas a more realistic touch. PolyJet 3D printing technology produces models that have exceptionally smooth surfaces and great detailing. For parts that need to bear load architects use FDM technology instead. College students as well as professionals can use this technology to flaunt their ideas in a more expressive way!

Automotive

As Indian economy is getting stronger with each passing day the purchasing index of the people of India is increasing by leaps and bounds. Earlier on the Indian road the cars that were visible were only Ambassador and Maruti but now there are lots of imported cars. Whenever there is a breakdown in the car and there is a requirement for spare parts, these parts have to be imported. Some automobile companies have their factories based in India but most companies are yet to set up their factories. So procuring these parts is difficult and expensive, 3D printing could be helpful to such people. In India there are companies like Imaginarium and ALTEM Technologies which produce prototypes and spare parts according to the needs of the Automotive customers.

Consumer Products

In Indian shopping malls, quite often we come across customized mugs, T-shirts and photo frames. This signifies that the consumer market for personalized goods is very strong. 3D printing can play a pivotal role in this new trend of customization. 3D printing gives an idea the speed required to match the brilliance of the concept. With the help of FDM printers, prototypes can be easily built. Transforming an idea into an object which can be touched and felt is a great feeling altogether. In the Indian context, with the dawn of 3D printers in the consumer industry ware houses can be done away with, thus saving a lot of money as well as lowering the rate of wastage.

Defense

In US we have seen that 3D printing is being incorporated in the defense mechanism of the country. Right from 3D printing surgical kits to the formation of 3D printing specialized platoons 3D printing is all set to help soldiers in the war front. India is in constant threat of being attacked by its neighboring countries. It could use this technology to give medical aid to the war causalities. 3D printers are also being used used for making customized food for soldiers in the war front. So if Indian soldiers have access to 3D printers like Foodini or ChefJet, this could provide some relief to them.

Dental

Indians are stereotyped as being foodies but recently Indians have become very health conscious. So there has been an outburst of gyms and beauty salons all over the country. There has also been a growth in the number of dental labs as well. 3D printing could be used in the dental industry to improve the quality and precision of dental products. Many labs in US have a digital design pattern by which oral scanning, CAD/CAM design and 3D printing of orthodontic appliances can be done with speed and precision.

Education

Education has always been a prime focal point in most Indian families. There is a huge emphasis on good quality education. There are many online as well as offline companies in India that are very keen in imparting knowledge and skill to enthusiastic students interested in 3DP technology. The amalgamation of 3D printing in the education sector with act as a fuel to the talent that is there in India. It would increase the creativity and the thinking capacity of students and help them to think in different ways. Very soon India is expected to be a world power so we need apt leaders with a balanced knowledge of recent developments to lead such a country. So including 3D printing into the curriculum is the best option.

Entertainment

Most of the animation programs that we see on the screen is being made in Bangalore, India. Big production houses such as DreamWorks and Walt Disney get their animations done in Bangalore. But the animators in India haven’t started to use 3D printing in a large scale as compared to other animators residing in other countries. This could prove that India might just lose its crown of being the animation hub if it doesn’t embrace 3D printing. 3D printing provides quick and agile fabrication. You might have seen a3D printed animated character on screen without even realizing it.

Medical

Last but not the least the medical industry, 3D printing has contributed the most to this field. It has not only saved lives but has transformed them too. The era of customization in the medical industry has been brought about with the help of this technology especially in the case of prosthetics. 3D printing human tissues, liver, ear, heart, exo-skeleton and many more have been the gift of 3D printing to mankind.

Also Read: Uses of 3D printing in India

Source: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2013/10/08/what-can-3d-printing-do-here-are-6-creative-examples/

 

 

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3D Printer Manufacturers in India

3D Printing - Prototyping Services
3D Printing - Prototyping Services

After flourishing in the developed countries, 3D printing technology has finally reached India. There are many companies that have embraced this technology and have started a successful business around it. Among these selective companies there are a few companies that have taken up the manufacturing of these machines.

In this article we shall talk about various 3D printer manufacturers in India. We shall also share a small description of the products that they are manufacturing.

Brahma3

The company based out of Bangalore was founded by Nikhil Velpanur and Arvind Nadig in August 2013. The main aim of the company is to manufacture 3D printers and render services related to 3D printing technology. The founders of this company started the company with an urge to work with a technology that had the potential to bring about a change in the world.

When the duo started off with their venture they had never seen a 3D printer in their life, the only concept that they had developed was from the videos that they saw on YouTube and various other websites. The sole problem was that in order to import a 3D printer a lot of money was required. So, soon they came across an open- source community that gave them the necessary details required to build a 3D printer.  This marked the starting of a new journey and the foundation was laid for manufacturing a 3D printer named Brahma3 Anvil.

In approximately 15 days time the duo successfully built the 3D printer.  With the concept of building a 3D printer that was user friendly accompanied with good looks they launched Brahma3 Anvil 3D printer. The printer was received with open arms and this encouraged them a lot. Now they wish to become India’s best 3D printing company.

Talking about the opportunities for entrepreneurs in the field of 3D printing Nikhil said “Every single industry will be revolutionized by 3D printing. From printing organs and prosthetic limbs, to space stations, education, science, manufacturing, fashion etc. The primary skill-sets that a person needs to have are to be open to learning and absorb as many skills as possible. 3D printing is not hardware, it’s not software, it’s not design – but a perfect combination of all. So if anyone wants to cut their teeth in 3D printing and setup a company of value, they need to be open, and get used to being multidisciplinary in their approach. Since the 3D printing ecosystem and market is just opening up, there will be millions of jobs created in ways we cannot imagine.”

About Brahma3 Anvil:

The printer is capable of printing large high resolution models. The design frame of the printer is made of Aluminum in order to ensure stability and rigidity during the printing process. The nozzle hot end is specially designed to reach a temperature up to 350°C. The printer can work with materials like PLA, ABS and Nylon and is also compatible with Lay wood, Lay brick, PVA, PC and more. The printer has 7 inches touch screen. So there is no need to connect 3D printer to the computer. The company is selling the machine for Rs. 1, 00, 000 (USD 1, 610).

Divide By Zero:

Divide by Zero is a Mumbai based firm which is also a sister concern of a company named LabGuard. LabGuard is a manufacturer of fume hoods and laboratory furniture. Divide by Zero was started by two individuals Swapnil Sansare and Riju R Earaly. The company aims to build user friendly as well as economical 3D printers for the Indian market. Swapnil said, “We thought of making affordable 3D printers for the Indian market and support individuals and organizations to prototype their ideas, play with them and create wonders. It’s completely manufactured in India and also one of the first affordable and professional 3D printers.”

Most of the 3D printers that are there in India are imported and as per Swapnil- “These printers don’t come with any warranty and customer service which results in mediocre and low quality outputs.” He claims that their product can be assembled out of the box and that the company offers warranty and support.

About Accucraft S 150 3D Printer:

  • Aluminum body for stability and precision
  • Resolution of 6 microns and printing speed of 300mm/ sec
  • Removable build platform
  • Semi- automatic bed leveling
  • Product weight: 20 kgs.

After all this the main question arises- the price! The printer is priced at 80, 000 INR which is quite cheap as compared to the other Indian 3D printers that are floating in the market. Swapnil says, “We aspire to carve a niche for Accucraft as a smart and efficient producer which creates simple products with a profound technique.”

KCbots:

The founder of this company, Karan Chaphekar has been making 3D printers since 2011. Karan has been making as well as selling RepRap based 3D printers in Mumbai. Karan said, “I was looking for something exciting to make and stumbled upon the world of 3D printing.” Karan also added that RepRaps are good for people who have a technical knowledge of the functioning and maintenance of the printer. It’s not suitable for general people in other words not that user friendly. But Karan believes that anyone can be a Maker and use a 3D printer.

With this point of view he started this company and developed user friendly and powerful machines. In order to run these machines you don’t have to be an engineer.

In the existing market there are many 3D printers but Karan feels that a good 3D printer is one that is reliable and delivers consistent output.

About Gbot 3D creator:

These printers are specially made to match up to the expectations of the Indian customers. The company backs up its printer with a strong support system as well as training resources in order to maximize the utility of these miracle makers!

Since the concept of 3D printing is quite new to India there are very few companies that are willing to take the risk to open up a 3D printing venture but in the near future we will definitely see more 3D printer manufacturers from India who have the technology and the resources to challenge the top guns of the 3D printing industry.

Also Read: Compare 3D printer price in India

Source: http://3dprintingindustry.com/2014/01/30/3d-printer-manufacturer-reduces-3d-printing-costs-india/

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3D Printing Companies in India

3D Printing in India
3D Printing in India

After successfully creating a strong market in the developed countries 3D printing is all set to conquer the markets of developing countries as well. The falling prices of 3D printers and other related equipment as well as the increased awareness among the people about the technology has lead to the creation of a strong market base for manufacturers. The technology is also entering into the mainstream by eliminating some of the drawbacks which were earlier restricting the usage of this technology for commercial purposes.

In the Indian context the technology is quite new and most people are skeptical about the performance of the technology. Thanks to the local assemblers as well as the domestic manufacturers 3D printers are available to the people for a relatively low price. This ensures that the technology could be tested and then when all the proofreading is done a branded 3D printer can be brought.

The Indian market has always been sensitive when it comes to price and so is in the case of 3D printing technology. Most of the industries follow the traditional method of manufacturing (for example: CNC Machines) and the price of 3D printers is almost equivalent to the price of any other conventional machine. This brings in an air of reluctance among the manufacturers for adapting 3D printing into their manufacturing process.

The technology itself is in the evolving phase and there are many transformations yet to be made in the field of mass production and easier design capabilities. One major drawback of 3D printing is the speed. For 3D printers to be fully used in the mainstream industries, these drawbacks should be sorted out at the earliest. These are also the reasons for 3D printing not booming in the Indian market.

This technology has been successfully adapted by many industries like automotive, medical, architectural, aerospace, educational, industrial and so on. As per the projections, the contribution of 3D printing in the various industries in the year 2013 are as follows:

  • Automotive (21.2%)
  • Medical (15%)
  • Industrial (13.8%)
  • Aerospace (10.8%)
  • Architectural (5.2%)
  • Educational (3.0%)

In the developed countries the 3D printing market is booming, the United States of America which is considered to be the biggest market for this technology in the year 2012 has generated revenue of $2 billion; on the other hand the Indian 3D printer market is expected to reach $46 million by the year 2019.

3D printing as a technology can in implemented in India in commercial sectors like healthcare sector, architecture, educational, art & craft. The elements that could attract Indians towards using this technology is the capacity of customization. The biggest positive point related to 3D printing is customization and the usage of these customized objects in various fields such as organ replacements, footwear, interior decorations, furniture modeling, food, animation and gaming, fashion and apparels as well as educational purposes. All this would create a strong base for 3D printing technology in India.

With each passing day researchers and scientists are bringing about ground breaking reforms in this technology and so the area of application of 3D printing is likely to develop even more in the near future.

There are many companies that have established their base in 3D printing industry such as Stratsys and MakerBot. These companies have established partnership with many Indian companies in order to increase their customer base. The major companies in India that are aspirants in this new field of 3D printing are:

ALTEM Technologies:

ALTEM Technologies is basically a Product Lifecycle management (PLM) Software VAR (Value Added Reseller) for a company named Dassault Systemes. It is also the Indian distributor for Stratasys 3D printers. The company has signed a partnership agreement with Stratasys in the year 2010. Since then the company has been supplying 3D printer to Indian consumers. The company sells FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) and Polyjet technology based 3D printers so that an ultimate 3D printing experience can be obtained by the consumers.

The company has its headquarters in Bangalore, India and three other sales officesin Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune.

Imaginarium:

The company claims to be the largest Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing Center in India. The company provides exclusive prototypes for a wide range of industries like from jewelry, engineering, automotive, architecture, consumer goods etc. The company has more than 30 years of experience in Rapid Prototyping and it uses this experience to deliver complete solution to the needs of the customers.

Brahma 3:

It is a startup company which is all set to explore the potential of 3D printing with the help of powerful hardware and very creative members on board. The company is one of the few Indian companies that have successfully made a 3D printer.

The company has named the printer as the Braham Anvil. The printer is made for both beginners as well as professionals.

Some of the features of the printer are mentioned below:

  • Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication
  • Build Volume: 240 x 240 x 240 mm
  • Printing Material: 3mm PLA, ABS, Nylon
  • of Extruders: 1
  • Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
  • Layer Resolution: 50- 100 micron
  • Maximum Extruder Temperature: 350°C
  • Hot end: All metal hot end
  • Extrusion method: Direct drive

KCbots:

KCbots is another Indian 3D printing company that is making extremely user friendly and powerful printers based on the knowledge and experience of its founder Karan Chaphekar. Chaphekar has vast experience in making RepRap 3D printers. The company was founded on the base of this knowledge. The company believes that the best 3D printer is a one that is reliable as well as consistent. The name of the 3D printer that the company has made is named Gbot 3D creator. The printer has been made especially for the Indian market. The company also offer support for customers via key support and training resources.

think3D:

think3D is another major startup in 3D printing space in India. think3D works with the mission “3D Printing For Everyone”. The company works on a multi-pronged strategy. (a) 3D Printer & Filament Sales (b) 3D Print On Demand (c) 3D Design Store (d) Training & Workshops. The company also covers latest happenings on 3D printing across the world. The company partnered with various 3D printer manufacturers across the world and thus offer reseller services for those manufacturers.

JGroup Robotics:

The company aims to manufacture 3D printers with supreme quality. With products such as Dimension 3 LE and Vector PLA 3D, the company delivers value added solutions. The company professes to have developed printers which have duplication accuracy up to 99%.

These are a few companies in India that are trying to create a market for this technology. Hopefully in the near future we do see more companies jumping in into the unknown waters of 3D printing!

Sources: 

About Us

http://www.imaginarium.co.in/aboutus.php

http://www.brahma3.com/

http://www.kcbots.com/

http://www.jgrouprobotics.com/aboutus