OK, maybe it isn’t quite coming to your local high street just yet, but a look at this year’s TCT Exhibition tends to suggest that it isn’t too far off. Dental labs are already making crowns using direct metal deposition, interior designers and jewellers are using it to turn their ideas into reality and luxury automotive marques are using it to explore the possibilities of mass customisation.

The pace may be quickening. This month, Stratasys, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of ‘additive fabrication machines’ – or what we used to call rapid prototyping machines – says it has taken record orders for its new 900mc large-format direct digital manufacturing machine. The company actually underestimated demand, according to product manager Patrick Robb, and has pre-sold 17 units.

Historically, Stratasys additive fabrication machines were used strictly for rapid prototyping, but the 900mc was developed specifically for low-volume manufacturing. There is a growing trend, says Stratasys, towards low-volume manufacturing, especially in the automotive, aerospace, consumer product, and heavy industry markets. All 17 units sold will be used in direct digital manufacturing applications for either end-use parts or fabrication and assembly tools, although some will also moonlight as high-end prototyping units.

Robb says the machine rivals injection molding for accuracy and repeatability and that for low-volume production, it’s a more cost-effective technique than traditional manufacturing.

Product marketing manager Fred Fischer goes even further. “This machine’s precision lets it rival any competing rapid technology process as well as traditional processes for low-volume manufacturing and prototyping.”

Now is that just marketing talking or had we all better look to our laurels?

Andy Sandford

Editor, Engineering Capacity