3D Printing Benefits and Drawbacks

3D printing has been the stuff of science fiction and futuristic idealism for the past few years. However, because of the constant, rapid innovation and modernization of technology in recent years, it became possible much sooner than anticipated. 

Since then, 3D printing services have become the norm, both for industrial and novelty purposes.

In just a matter of crafty design coupled with the right, reliable equipment, one can easily create their own personalized 3D printed product.

Moreover, here are the benefits and drawbacks of 3D printing.

3D Printing: Advantages and Disadvantages

3D printing has its own set of pros and cons.

While it’s worth noting that to those fortunate enough to have the technology, premium 3D printing services continue to be an effective and profitable option; those not as fortunate, however, have budget constraints, limited availability and a number of other factors that still make 3D printing seem like a pipe dream. 

Let’s break it down further:

Advantages

3D printing has changed the game when it comes to accuracy and productivity. 

In the constant demand for convenience. 3D printing not just saves time and money, but a whole lot of other important things as well:

Tangible and accurate details.

3D printing improves production and design accuracy. 

A 3D print, as opposed to a 2D print, serves as a much more reliable reference because it provides an accurate depiction of the project or item. 

3D print is considered as the pinnacle of prototyping, as well, as it emphasizes the spatial and structural elements of a project. As a result, it is heavily used for testing in architecture, engineering, and product design.

3D printing saves lives.

In recent years, the availability of 3D printing has played a significant role in medical advancements. 

Although bioprinting, which allows medical experts to engineer and customize prosthetic limbs and organs, is still in its early stages, it is expected to reduce the chances of organ rejection in transplant patients and pave the way for more ergonomic prosthetics for PWDs.

Save time and effort.

Gone are the days of wasting time and paper by printing minutely adjusted drafts that only add to the waste. 

3D printing creates an accurate, tangible prototype of the design, consuming fewer resources such as paper, ink, and, most importantly, time.

3D printing builds better opportunities.

Aside from an effective actualization of design, 3D printing creates not just better options but better opportunities. 

An industry on the rise, 3D printing for businesses, as it grows, will eventually require its own set of experts – operators, technicians and engineers – providing more opportunities for STEM professionals, be it for operation, installation or maintenance purposes.   

Disadvantages

A relatively young development in technology, 3D printing is not without its own set of cons:

The higher the consumption, the higher the cost.

3D printing requires specialized equipment, which requires a bigger space and a much bigger energy consumption. The need for more space and higher energy requirement factors into cost, which also makes 3D printing services a bit more costly.

Better does not always mean greener.

As effective and as accurate 3D printing can be – especially for purposes of spatial and design requirements in areas such as architecture and engineering – it might not be the most environmentally-friendly option. 

Since 3D printing requires high-power, specialized equipment, it has a higher energy consumption. ABS and PLA filaments, the material used in assembling 3D printed drafts, is also a commonly used plastic that would often end up in landfills. 

No need to worry though, as 3D printing continues to develop, we can expect more environmentally friendly adjustments any time soon

3D printing is rocket science… for some.

Unlike a regular printer, a 3D printer isn’t something that you can learn how to do from an instructional video or a device manual. It takes an intricate process to accomplish, which you might need to visit a 3D printing services company for. 

But since 3D printing is relatively young and continues to evolve, we can expect that in a few years, improvements in mobility and user experience might make 3D printing for consumers more accessible.

Get Started with 3D Printing through 3D2GO

We are 3D2Go, the premier company for anything 3D in the Philippines. We have the technology and talents to assist you in creating a 3D model of various items.

We are the one-stop-shop of everything 3D such as 3D scanning, 3D modeling, 3D prototyping and more. 

By allowing us to help you, you can assure an accurate and satisfying result of your project. 

We sell 3D scanners and 3D printers if you want to do your own DIY project.

Reach us through our Facebook or leave us a message here.