3D PRINTING VS INJECTION MOULDING
INTRODUCTION: • 3D PRINTING AND INJECTION MOLDING ARE TWO MOST-USED METHODS FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING. EACH ONE OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES HAS ITS OWN ADVANTAGE AND IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF PROCESS, VOLUME, COST, AND TIME.
WHAT IS INJECTION MOULDING? • A MOULD THAT IS AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE PART TO BE PRODUCED IS PREPARED FIRST. THEN LIQUEFIED AND HEATED PLASTIC MATERIAL IS INJECTED INTO IT TO FORM THE SHAPE OF THE PART. WHEN THE MOULD CAVITY IS FILLED, THE INJECTED MATERIAL IS THEN COOLED AND RESOLIDIFIED. THE MOULD, WHICH IS USUALLY IN TWO PARTS, THEN EJECTS THE PIECE.
WHAT IS 3D PRINTING? • 3D PRINTING DOESN’T REQUIRE ANY MOULD AND WORKS ON A DIGITAL FILE CREATED IN CAD. A 3D PRINTER PRINTS THE PRODUCT LAYER BY LAYER THAT IS SPREAD ON THE PRINTER’S BED. 3D PRINTER SERVICE IS GOOD FOR PROTOTYPING AND LOWVOLUME PRODUCTION.
INJECTION MOULDING VS. 3D PRINTING • COST: • INJECTION MOULDING SERVICES REQUIRE A MACHINE THAT COSTS AROUND 60 TO 80 K DOLLARS. DEDICATING SUCH A BIG AMOUNT FOR A SINGLE PRODUCT IS NOT PRACTICAL AND FEASIBLE TO ALL. MOREOVER, IT’S ALSO EXPENSIVE TO BUILD THE CUSTOM-BUILD INJECTION MOULDS. THAT’S WHY INJECTION MOULDING SERVICE AUSTRALIA IS TAKEN FOR HIGH-VOLUME PRODUCTION. • 3D PRINTING MACHINES THOUGH COSTLY, ARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES. MOREOVER, THERE IS NO SET UP COST INVOLVED. IF YOU OUTSOURCE 3D PRINTING IN MELBOURNE, THE ONLY THING YOU WOULD BE INVESTING IS TIME.
• VOLUME: • INJECTION MOULDING METHOD IS SUITABLE FOR HIGH-VOLUME PRODUCTION. ONCE THE MOULD IS BUILT, IT CAN PRODUCE A PART IN THOUSANDS. EVEN THE INVESTMENT PUT INTO PURCHASING THE INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE WOULD BE WORTH SINCE IT LASTS FOR YEARS. • 3D PRINTING IS THE BEST OPTION FOR PROTOTYPING AND LOW-VOLUME PRODUCTION. IT OFFERS PRECISION, QUALITY, AND CONTROLS TO TWEAK THE DESIGN. BUT THERE ARE A FEW FAST 3D PRINTERS THAT CAN PRINT THOUSANDS OF PARTS IN THE MAKING.
• TIME: • INJECTION MOULDING METHOD IS FASTER. IT CAN PRODUCE SIX TO EIGHT PARTS IN SECONDS DEPENDING ON THE MOULD CAVITY. EVEN THE SPEED OF THE MACHINE IS MUCH FASTER. • 3D PRINTERS ARE SLOW AND CAN TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS TO PRINT A SINGLE PART OF 3 X 3 DIMENSIONS.
CONTACT US
• FOR PROTOTYPING AND 3D PRINTING AUSTRALIA, CONTACT ZEAL 3D PRINTING SERVICES AT • INFO@ZEAL3DPRINTING.COM.AU OR 1300 719 729.