[jayrunner]

Can someone explain 3-D printing to me. I’ve read various articles on it, but I don’t see a big difference between current molds, dies, and other older devices used in manufacturing.
There must be something I’m missing.

[Strategerist]

3-D printing is additive - you’re not taking a block of material and machining it down, and you’re not making a mold.

You can build very complex shapes more easily, and with a smaller and cheaper machine, than milling something down subtractively.

[thackney]

I don’t see a big difference between current molds, dies, and other older devices used in manufacturing

The biggest advantage I see is the ability to make changes with only software, add thickness to a place discovered after use to be a weak link.

Also if economic to produce, low volume items cost little more than high volume items.

[thackney]

I don’t see a big difference between current molds, dies, and other older devices used in manufacturing

The biggest advantage I see is the ability to make changes with only software, add thickness to a place discovered after use to be a weak link.

Also if economic to produce, low volume items cost little more than high volume items.

[Yo-Yo]

3-D printing is also known as rapid prototyping.

It's a fast and easy way to make one of something, rather than having to create molds or dies.

But if you want to make 1,000, then molds or dies are the only way to go.