3D Printing And Injection Molding: Becoming A Factory

Turn Your 3D Printer into a Full-Fledged Production Line with 'Many-Maker' Injection Molding Kit (+Video)

Benedict [3ders.org]| February 3, 2016

As most of our readers will know, 3D printing can be incredibly useful for creating one-of-a-kind items, since it allows makers to cut out the time and expenditure required to employ an external manufacturer. When 3D printing and traditional injection molding are compared side by side, one can see advantages and disadvantages to each: 3D printing can be easily carried out in one’s own living room and allows for intricate internal architectures that cannot be produced via other methods. Injection molding, on the other hand, generally requires larger and more complex machinery, but—once that machinery is in place—is a far quicker and more cost-effective way of mass-producing simple parts. What’s more, injection-molded parts can have smoother, more consistent textures than their 3D printed equivalents.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVWFtGotnvQ&feature=youtu.be

<more at http://www.3ders.org/articles/20160203-turn-3d-printer-into-a-full-fledged-production-line-with-many-maker-injection-molding-kit.html; related links: http://studiofathom.com/rapid-prototyping/rapid-injection-mold-tooling/ (3D Printed Tooling & Infection Molding) and http://makezine.com/projects/make-41-tinkering-toys/diy-injection-molding/ (Make Your Own Injection Molding Machine. Tried, true, and totally doable. Start cranking out solid thermoplastic parts); further: https://youtu.be/cVWFtGotnvQ (+Video) (Many Maker Indiegogo campaign video. Published January 31, 2016); further: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/go-from-3d-printing-to-desktop-injection-moulding#/ (Go from 3D printing to Desktop Injection Moulding)>