The News: Digital Molding Gives 3D Printing Six Sigma Repeatability
Referenced Link: https://www.industryweek.com/technology-and-iiot/digital-molding-gives-3d-printing-six-sigma-repeatability
Our Comment:
Industry Week is reporting today about the new Digital Molding initiative from 3D Systems. The Figure 4 line of printers can be used alone or in tandem for thermoplastic production runs. This is not rapid prototyping or one-off custom manufacturing, this is straight from design to manufacture without creating molds.
The 3D Systems Digital Molding initiative is the first instance where 3D printers can behave like other manufacturing equipment, providing production runs with reliability and repeatability. The long process of mold development and tooling is substituted by digital design. This means design can become finished product in hours instead of days or weeks.
Digital Molding will not replace injection molding for mass production. What it offers is immediacy and the ability to make quick production changes.