This is a guest post in our series looking atthe future of 3D Printing。To celebrate 5 years of reporting on the 3D printing industry, we’ve invited industry leaders and 3D printing experts to give us their perspective on the next 5 years of 3D printing.
斯科特·福塞特的董事总经理Essentra plc的组件解决方案自2016年12月以来，自2014年1月以来一直担任分销董事总经理。Scott于2010年加入Essentra，担任Moss Plastics Business的董事总经理。在加入Essentra之前，他曾担任电动公司PLC的电子商务主管，在那里他在17年的职业生涯中担任了越来越高级的销售，市场营销和电子商务职位。
3D打印的未来by Scott Fawcett
现在，制造商比以往任何时候都更需要响应行业中的连通性和数字化的提高。在客户不断变化的需求的驱动下，制造商必须具有动态和灵活性，并迅速响应以找到满足客户需求的解决方案。这种行业发展（通常称为工业4.0）将影响3D打印的未来。简而言之，行业4.0描述了当前对更自动化和数据驱动模型和3D打印的制造实践的转变，这是该进化过程中的重要组成部分。随着技术进步的速度逐年提高，随着个性化和定制等趋势的上升，3D打印将使制造商能够保持领先地位，并使产品比以往任何时候都更快，更便宜。
The evolution of smart factories
根据I-SCOOP的一份报告，到2026年，智能建筑行业的价值将超过220亿美元，这意味着它将影响我们的所有生活并影响所有行业。通过使用监视制造过程的数据中心，Wi-Fi和智能设备，技术已经在制造业中拥有强大的业务。每天，我们都会看到越来越多的公司在全球范围内对这一发展和创建智能工厂的反应。
最近，德国运动服制造商阿迪达斯宣布将开设新的manufacturing facility充满创新和技术萨非sticated machines, including 3D printers. The factory will rely on 3D printing technology to reduce manufacturing times and production periods, aiming to produce roughly 500,000 pairs of shoes annually, which works out at nearly 1,370 pairs of shoes on a daily basis.
We are also seeing 3D printing software and platforms replacing the traditional process of prototype testing. Examples of this software, allow designers to specify which material is used in certain parts and accurately portray specific measurements, such as dimensions. While 3D printing plays a crucial role in the manufacturing capabilities, it will also help manufacture the critical pieces of infrastructure such as fasteners and fixings.
Without a doubt, 3D printing plays an important role in Industry 4.0 but there is still a way to go to make the processes fully automated. Most manufacturing processes still need to be managed closely by humans to avoid any technological error and quality control. By 2018, it’s estimated that 1.3 million industrial robots will be working in factories across the globe, yet, despite this huge technological advancement, these robots still require human expertise. Although the rise in Additive Manufacturing is hugely beneficial to the productivity of a company, the ability to improvise and make split-second, complex decisions is uniquely human.
The rise of connected cars
As the Industry 4.0 concept progresses we will see more and more disruptive technology, already integrated in to the wider mass market, infiltrating and transforming the core processes and procedures followed by the manufacturing industry. There is perhaps no better example of this form of technological development than the incorporation of additive manufacturing in to the automotive sector. Car owners can now control virtually all vehicle functions with a press of a button. Some car manufacturers even allow consumers to take a back seat whilst driving, offering automated parking assistance.
现在，“连接的汽车”和“智能车辆”为其所有者提供了比以往更多的信息。汽车的传感器，灯光，信息娱乐系统和电子设备越来越多。添加剂制造的未来还将看到对汽雷电竞充值车紧固件和固定装置的需求增加和不同的需求。平均现代车辆需要大约50-200个紧固件，2016年全球汽车塑料紧固件市场规模估计为21.8亿美元。
With this in mind, manufacturers are having to constantly develop solutions in lightweight materials that meet all the demands of the necessary application in the most efficient way. Not to mention when customers demandbespoke or customised options。Interior car parts are hugely complex and thorough and require precise attention to detail. This precision is where additive manufacturing truly comes into its own and demonstrates the efficiency and speed of technology to deliver the end product.
Streamlining the manufacturing process
This technological development presents exciting new opportunities for the components, fasteners and fixings markets. The additive manufacturing industry is constantly evolving and it is important that manufacturers adopt a strategic approach to providing manufacturers with essential design and prototype support. For companies specialising in the manufacture of essential components, particularly those in the automotive and smart building industries, this rise in connectivity hasstrengthened productivity。
3D printing is also being used significantly on the shop floor to create new fasteners and components such asgrippers for robots。该技术使制造过程能够随着设计和过程知识的发展而迅速改变。制造商必须继续投资使用3D打印来最终提高印刷品的质量和速度，并完全简化3D打印过程。值得注意的是，3D打印的效率可以补充注射成型的准确性，一致性和成本。3D打印不太可能取代注射成型，但是随着材料和流程的发展，想要各种小订单数量的客户可以从这两种技术的这种合作中受益。
Bridging the knowledge gap
最终，3D打印和增材制造业的未来依赖于教育。雷电竞充值对于3D打印和增材制造业，围绕角色行业4.0的角色4.0的混乱和误解都有明显的混乱和误解。雷电竞充值
Until the manufacturing industry bridge this gap, the full potential of this industry will remain untapped. A recent survey conducted by advisory firmBDO LLPin association with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers revealed that only 8% of UK manufacturers have a significant understanding of Industry 4.0, despite 59% of those surveyed recognising that the fourth industrial revolution will have a big impact on the sector. Whether we like it or not, the rise of Industry 4.0 is inevitable and failure to adopt features, including 3D printing, will significantly impact on a company’s future productivity.
这是一个特别令人兴奋和定义for the manufacturing industry, and as society and technology continues to evolve so too must manufacturing companies. The future of 3D printing and the technological transitions seen in the additive manufacturing industry will reshape and redefine manufacturing processes once and for all, improving both the quality and the efficiency of a business. Above all, this rise in connectivity within the 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing industry will increase productivity and manufacturers will be able to reap the rewards of making this transition for many years to come.
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This is a guest post in our series looking at the3D打印的未来, if you’d like to participate in this series then contact us for more information. For more insights into the 3D printing industry,sign up to our free newsletterandfollow our active social media channels。
2018年3D印刷行业奖的提名现已开放，let us know the leading additive manufacturing enterprises here.
Featured image shows Scott Fawcett, Managing Director ofEssentra plc的组件解决方案
