How Additive Manufacturing Makes Short Production Runs Practical
How Additive Manufacturing Makes Short Production Runs Practical
Printing a part directly from a model reduces the need to build tooling before the first run.
A team can revise dimensions between batches and produce parts on demand. The method is attractive for jigs, fixtures and spares that would otherwise need a dedicated mold.
Orientation, support removal and post-processing affect both cost and repeatability. A part printed for appearance can have very different properties from one qualified for repeated mechanical loads.
For a small batch, count machine time, operator labor and inspection. That gives a fuller comparison against machining or molding than the raw material price alone.
