When designing a new ceramic part:
- Consider that exploiting the intrinsic (and therefore "offered") advantages of 3D printing increases the value of your product.
- Check by reviewing the 5 points below how your project would benefit from integrating them
Ceramic 3D printing:
1) is the ideal way to simply make custom parts because you print directly by adding material only where necessary, following a 3-dimensional plan drawn in CAD. No tooling is required (no mould, no specific tool). The way to customised series is open!
2) allows customised parts to be produced individually and even in large series!
3) shortens the development time of new products. During development, a long tooling modification in another process (injection, pressing, moulding, ...) is reduced to a short CAD drawing modification in 3D printing.
4) allows the creation of complex designs and functionalities that would otherwise be inaccessible. For example, 3D printed ceramics do not require demoulding angles, allow hollow shapes that would be impossible even in moulding, offer details down to 0.3mm...
5) gives the choice between many ceramics for the same technology.
In conclusion, 3D printing is not a technology that competes with other means of shaping ceramics, but offers a new opening for creativity and increased product value.