Additive manufacturing aligns with the needs of almost any industry. Automotive is not an exception, driving advances in vehicle design. Mass production is now a reality in additive manufacturing (or 3D printing) as the technologies are continuously advancing to a point where end-use parts can be produced of both metal and plastic materials, ready to be used in real-world applications.

Some of the best-known benefits of additive manufacturing align precisely with what automotive OEMs are looking to deliver:

When new models come out annually, any stage of the development cycle that can be reduced is a leg up on the competition. Today, 3D printing is speeding design and prototyping processes, creating unique tools for each production line, and making an increasing number of end-use parts for standard and customized vehicles, as well as on-demand spare parts manufacture. The large volumes of parts the automotive industry produces annually combined with the fast prototyping and production capabilities of 3D printing create the perfect match.

3D printing in automotive manufacturing is on the rise, with big names putting the technology to use for decades and new applications developing in mass production. From 3D printing prototypes to full-on custom 3D printed cars, automakers now realize that 3D printing will unlock the limitless potential within their production process.

There is obviously a growing use of 3D printing in the medical industry. Indeed, it can be used to create tools, prosthesis, dental implants, and so on. One of the many industries that have been heavily influenced by 3D printing is dentistry. Dental 3D printing is the key to modern dentistry, as it is really helpful for dental labs. Over the course of the past decade, the dental industry has been revolutionized by 3D printing technology. Several different applications of 3D printing have been developed, from fixing broken teeth to making flossing easier. Digital dentistry is wide-spreading quite fast in the industry for many reasons. As we said, it is an easy way to get customized items. Moreover, it is a cost-effective and time-saving method. For example, if your 3D printed device doesn’t fit, you just have to modify your 3D design. You don’t have to redo the whole process as you would have with injection molding.

3D printing takes the efficiencies of digital design to the production stage. By combining oral scanning, CAD/CAM design and 3D printing, dental labs can accurately and rapidly produce crowns, bridges, stone models and a range of orthodontic appliances.

The dental industry is transforming into a fully-digital one quicker than most dentists imagined. 3D technologies are completely altering the way in which dental solutions can be approached. That is due to its ability to print a variety of complex shapes in significant volumes, using different applicable materials. With a 3D printer doing the hard work, dental labs eliminate the bottleneck of manual modeling and let the business grow. Printing is done both in the dentist’s office and in labs, and it brings a new level of speed and ease to old procedures.

3D Scanners are portable, phenomenally quick and can be used with objects of various sizes. There’s no need to move scanned items or to place markers on the object. These are the advantages that make our 3D Scanners an indispensable tool in the preservation of the world’s cultural heritage.

Digital repatriation is an aspect of heritage preservation work that has gained increasing popularity due to its effectiveness in assisting indigenous communities in connection with museum collections located at various institutions around the world. It is not an alternative to physical repatriation; rather, the two can be used in conjunction, especially with the incorporation of 3D technology.

3D supports the decolonization of preservation and documentation practices, as 3D models and point clouds can remain with the institution, with permission from the origin’s community, while the original physical piece can be repatriated. Due to 3D technology’s capability to render detailed models, it is possible to highlight groups of items, perhaps scattered around the world in real life, as an intellectual unit not only as masterpieces in their own rights but also as powerful and articulate representations of their origin communities and cultures.

Recasting digital repatriation in this light allows for perceiving it as a complementary method to, and a possible step toward, physical repatriation. Sharing 3D models with origin communities within the larger framework of a collaborative project disseminates information and raises awareness about the existence of previously unknown artifacts. Using the newly generated information to enrich digital repatriation platforms increases communication among collections, institutions, and local communities.