tech today
for the 12-Volt Industry Learn how to choose materials, what programs to employ and how to get started with 3D printing in your shop. WORDS BY BRIAN SCHURG
Also known as “additive manufacturing,” 3D printing has been around for a few decades now. Mainly used in medical fields (think false teeth) and for rapid prototyping for industry use, it took a while to become somewhat mainstream. Of course, I use the term “mainstream” loosely. The technology has been wildly popular for prop makers, cosplayers, and those who need or require a Yoda head or a baby Groot. But for the 12-volt industry, not so much. In the past handful of years, CNC has been picking up speed in our industry, a revolution of sorts, yet additive manufacturing has been a hold-out. Unfortunately
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there tends to be a stigma surrounding 3D printing, ongoing misunderstandings and bad assumptions. While many of my friends picked up lasers and routers, I decided to go to 3D printing because I saw some potential. At first, they all snickered. They laughed or made fun of how small it was, but I chose not to listen.
A Complex, Multi-Layered Tool Like any process, 3D printing has its pros and cons. It will never replace a CNC laser or router. It just can’t compete with the speed or tolerance those machines have, but it can exploit the third dimension in ways those machines cannot. The main thing I was concerned with was that it can make products that are essentially
fabricated right off the platform, and they are done with ABS plastic—a plastic that anyone in the install bay is familiar with. I figured if I needed to paint or wrap the project, there would be no problem. It’s just ABS, no hocus pocus needed. Plus, I can model them with the correct tolerance ahead of time. (Say what?) I get asked questions about 3D printing all the time. Which printer is best? What material should I use? What’s a “slicer”? Do I need to learn CAD? Which CAD program is the best one? Does it really take 24 hours to print parts? Unfortunately it would seem every question leads to a much deeper conversation. Years ago, I didn’t know which machine to buy, either. How could I? The market has more machines than
