3D printing has found its way into many manufacturing processes, including sheet metal fabrication. Here are some of the use cases that this technology offers in this area.
Prototyping
You can quickly produce prototypes without putting in a lot of time or resources to see whether something is feasible when it's put into practice. If an idea doesn't work the way that you hoped, it's easy enough to try something else.
Custom Tools
Do you need parts or tools customized to your unique needs at your business? You can put together purpose-built 3D printed objects that can address highly specific use cases around your company. These tools may not be suitable for mass production, but they improve your work quality of life significantly.
Scale Models
Want to look at a sheet metal fabrication project with a big-picture view before you start fabrication in earnest? Use 3D printing to get scale models of everything to address potential issues before they go into production.
Handling Hard to Fabricate Parts
Sometimes part designs don't lend themselves well to standard fabrication processes. If you're having a hard time figuring out how to make unusual parts, 3D printing may be the solution that makes it possible.
Low-run and One-off Jobs
It doesn't always make sense to use sheet metal fabrication processes that require a lot of set up time and investment when you're doing a very low run or even a one-off job. Eliminate that inefficiency by putting 3D printing to work for these projects instead.
You don't have to worry about it not being as fast or efficient as other methods, because the volume is so low that it doesn't have a long-term impact on your productivity. You can take on unique and unusual projects, or trial orders from new customers, which can open up opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to your company.
3D printing continues to evolve into new markets and materials. It has a lot of use in sheet metal fabrication, with the flexibility needed to expand into new areas. It's a worthwhile investment to add to your business, especially if you current have clients that it would benefit.
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