Can I print it on a 3D printer? Does 3D printing make sense to make my part?

EOS North America and its Applied Engineering division, Additive Minds, have launched the “Can I 3D Print This” analytics tool to create fast and fully automated reports on parts that may or may not be additively produced. In a nutshell – the report answers the question: “Is 3D printing the right method to create parts?” The application operating from the level of a web browser allows you to check the legitimacy of using 3D printing for both metal and plastic.

Tailored to industrial 3D printing, Can I 3D Print uses user-provided information on the current method of manufacturing parts and their 3D design. After entering the data, a comprehensive analysis is generated, including a cost estimate, estimated production time, recommended 3D printer, and recommended materials. Upon completion of the analysis, a report is generated that can be downloaded. The analysis also includes multiple comparisons of cost of parts (CPP), production schedule and material consumption compared to current traditional manufacturing processes. The application also allows direct contact with specialists from Additive Minds for additional consultation.

3D printing – this is the step-by-step process:

• the user selects a specific part for valuation
• the user answers a few basic questions about the part, including its application, type of material, method of manufacture, current (or expected) unit costs and expected benefits that 3D printing is to give him (e.g. optimization of weight, price or time)
• the application makes a very detailed report on the parts
• the user reviews the analysis and then can decide whether to proceed (e.g. order it via EOS) or not?

The whole process is automated, so there is no need to involve sales staff. This is a key aspect of the service, because it does not trigger the process of repeated contacts from traders asking about their production.

As for the final report itself, it includes:

• part geometry analysis
• recommended 3D printing system and material
• recommended material properties compared to current materials
• analysis of the break-even point and production time compared to the current production method
• comparison of the CPP with the current production process and product life cycle
• “smart” CPP analysis that adjusts based on part orientation.

Interestingly, part properties are estimated and then compared to the original material used by the user. This allows you to immediately check whether the part meets the technical requirements? Much of the report is based on financial analysis. The idea is to allow the user to decide whether to produce the part using 3D printing or is it worth staying with the current production method? While the decision has technical aspects, it ultimately comes down to production costs and delivery time cycles, which are perfectly analyzed in the generated report.

To create the system, EOS collaborated with CASTOR. The web tool is currently only available to North American users, but EOS intends to expand this to users from the rest of the world. At the moment, the analysis is limited to five parts, but larger batch analyzes of applications or teams can be carried out by working with the EOS Additive Minds engineering team.

Source: www.eos.info
Photos: www.eos.info (press materials / all rights reserved)