How Can I Get Started with Additive Manufacturing? There are 9 ways….
Additive manufacturing can transform your business. It can accelerate your innovation. It can improve your profitability. It can improve your brand and your public image. It can also cost you a lot of money with little or no benefit. The best way to innovate is to collaborate with people who have a different set of professional experiences than you do. You know your business so what you need is someone who knows additive manufacturing. Luckily there are 9 ways you can get started in additive manufacturing without wasting capital.
1. Work with a distributor or value-added reseller (VAR). Companies that sell additive manufacturing equipment often have knowledgeable salespeople. They often have labs with machines that can be used to make test parts for you to evaluate the cost and quality of the product. Beware that some may have only one or two technologies to sell so you may need to talk to more than one to find the best product.
2. Work with a machine manufacturer. Companies that build machines often have engineers and labs and are willing to work with you to prove your application. Be warned that they get lots of calls to help so they might put you in line. They might even ask you to pay for the parts they make. They will often rebate the part price when you buy a machine.
3. Work with a service bureau. Job shops in additive manufacturing are called service bureaus. They do more than just 3d print parts. They can help you with designing parts for additive manufacturing. They can pick one of many processes to make your part. They can print your part. Most importantly they may be able to post-process your part to make it look or work as you intended it to. For many manufacturers, you do not go out and buy the latest in machining or metal fabricating if you need a few parts. Additive manufacturing is the same way. A good service bureau can get you all the advantages of additive manufacturing with little risk.
4. Buy an entry-level machine. Small fused filament fabrication machines start at a few hundred dollars. It only takes a little tech-savvy to start making parts. (Pro tip – Read the manual. If that does not work there are lots of websites that can answer your printing questions.) You can buy a pretty nice small machine for less than $5,000. These machines will teach you much of what you need to understand about 3D printing, like what is printable and what is not. They will introduce you to slicing (CAM Programming) support structures and proper part orientation for printing.
5. Work with a national laboratory. If you have a big project that is something novel or new a national lab might be willing to help. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has a Manufacturing Demonstration Facility with almost every kind of additive manufacturing machine. They are staffed with PhD-level scientists in robotics, materials, and processes. They are not the only national lab that is doing AM. Here is a list of national labs: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/national-laboratories National labs are great for solving big basic science problems. There are a couple of ways to work with a lab. They are all interested in educating manufacturers to make the US more competitive. If you have a real project you can simply pay them for the work they do. They also may be willing to pitch in some money to help you out. There is a mechanism called a CRADA or cooperative research and development agreement. If they like your project you will be responsible for providing funding or equipment that is at least half of the cost of the project. Once the project is completed you will need to commercialize the work or the lab has the right to sell the IP to someone else. Their sponsors will only fund groundbreaking innovations so don’t bother them with something more suited to a service bureau.
6. Work in a maker space. In almost every city there are one or more maker spaces. These are organizations where people collectively gather equipment that can be used to make things. Often, they have 3D printers, laser cutters, hand tools, soldering stations, sewing machines, and the like. The members are all interested in making things and they may be willing to help you understand how to make whatever it is you need. In Cincinnati, we even have a maker space in our main public library.
7. Work with a university. Most universities that have a mechanical engineering department have capabilities in additive manufacturing. Some technical colleges have training facilities for additive manufacturing technicians. Universities want to build relationships with businesses as businesses can provide jobs for their students upon graduation. Professors often earn extra money by consulting. Some universities have research institutes as a connection between their faculty and industry. The University of Cincinnati has the UC Research Institute (UCRI) and the University of Dayton has UDRI.
8. Work with an MEP. States have organizations that are set up to help industry. Ohio has a Manufacturing Extension Partnership network. In Cincinnati, we have TechSolve which helps with all kinds of manufacturing challenges from machining to additive manufacturing.
9. Hire a consultant to evaluate your needs. We are partial to this solution. There are a range of consultants in specific technologies or in AM in general that can help you evaluate if you should be in additive manufacturing. Many consultants may not be the best to answer your questions but they almost all know who can. We can refer you to the other consultant, machine manufacturer, or service bureau who can best help you with your needs. You can spend weeks on the internet trying to teach yourself what you need to know when a good consultant can evaluate your needs and give you a basic understanding of what comes next in a few hours. If you have questions get hold of us. We can help.
10. On LinkedIn Tyler LeBrun suggested that you could also go to a trade show to learn and get started. That makes for 10 ways. Thanks, Tyler …. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerlebrun/