Speed is a fundamental advantage of 3D printing (or additive manufacturing) that is critical in the race to bring new products to market. When asked, most all of those performing 3D printing will say speed is important. But how fast is fast enough, and how is speed measured?
In reality, speed is a relative measure, and when it comes to 3D printing, it is throttled by many variables. To lump technologies in ‘fastest’ and ‘slowest’ buckets is misleading. While some generalizations are fitting, few hold true when considering the entire picture.
As a print head zips across a powder bed, a laser dances along a vat or an extrusion head methodically works its way around a part, it’s easy to draw the wrong conclusion. What product designers and manufacturers really want is an efficient process: one that has few bottlenecks, lots of automation and rapid response.
Find out more in this white paper to learn about the key considerations for assessing a 3D printer’s speed such as the full scope of the process, pre- and post-build time, the variables affecting build time, and the effect of age on equipment and materials.
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