August 23, 2012
Finnovation Product Development : 3D printing Tech-Blog
With all the emerging 3D printing service providers, how do you know which one to choose? One company may quote you $1200 for a part, while another 3D Printing service provider will quote the part for $200. Why is there such a difference in price, and what am I getting? This can be frustrating to individuals who are new to the world of 3D Printing and/or on a limited budget. I will explain why these prices are so vastly different in hopes to ease the frustration when finding a 3D printing service provider.
The main determining factor for pricing is the type of technology used to create your design. There are machines that sell for as little as $1200 and machines that cost over $1,000,000. Needless to say, the part printed on the million dollar machine will cost much more than the part printed on a $1200 home desktop model. Professional service bureaus use industrial grade machines for the best possible results and are held to engineering standards. These machines provide the exact geometry you need, made out of the exact material you request for your design's requirements. But what if you don't know what machine to use, or what material you need the part made out of? All you know is you uploaded your .STL file and received an email with a discouraging estimate!
3D printing is a broad term that does not specify the actual process of how the part will be created. Depending on what you need the part for is a huge factor that is overlooked by most 3D printing Service Providers. For example, If you need your part to be a positive for a molding process then the 3D Printing technology used to create the part will directly dictate the cost. The part must be durable enough to withstand the forces of molding, and have a smooth finish to ensure a proper mold. Or, perhaps you need to have your custom bracket printed, and that bracket must be able to be tested by screwing it into place. This would require another 3D Printing process to ensure that the part is durable enough to withstand the forces it will encounter serving its purpose. There are a lot of factors in play that will affect your 3D Printing experience, and knowing all of them is crucial to making sure your design does exactly what you need it to do. Who can you consult to make sure your 3D printing experience is maximized?
The Finnovation Product Development Tactical Division works one on one with clients to decide what material and process will be used to ensure the 3D Printed parts serve their designed function. Additionally each .STL file is analyzed by a human being and not a computer program. Through our process, we inspect the STL file for quality, decide the best orientation for printing, and send the 3D Printing quote to the client at no obligation. Based on our expertise and STL inspection, we will then make tactical suggestions on how to maximize the benefit of 3D printing, catered to the individual clients intent. We prefer to consult with the client by phone or web conference to discuss their project prior to 3D Printing. This ensures that the client receives exactly what they need from a 3D printing service provider. Our goal is to include everyone, not just engineers and manufacturers, in the benefits and cost saving potential that 3D printing can provide. You don't have to have an engineering degree, or work for Boeing to benefit from 3D Printing.
You just have to contact Finnovation Product Development, "We put your ideas into your hands."
