Key Benefits
1. Cost-Effective
One of the best reasons to use 3D printing in Robotics is because of how cost-effective it is. Because designing robotics is often a complicated process, costs can quickly build up and pile high. This may prevent you from having the flexibility to try out new ideas, play around with your robots, and to have an in-depth editing process. However, because of the cost-effective benefits of 3D printing, you’re now able to cut down on development costs drastically, allowing you to not break the bank during your robot-creating process and production.
2. Fast Process
Speed is always an added benefit of 3D printing. Whereas traditional manufacturers may take weeks or even months to bring your design to life, 3D printing cuts production times down drastically. Because of 3D printing, you’re able to edit your robot at a much faster pace and ultimately can have it ready for production much sooner than if you had chosen to use some form of traditional manufacturing.
3. Prototype Easily
Prototyping is vital to creating a great robot. After all, with so many moving parts involved, errors are almost inevitable. Because of the efficiency of 3D printing (in addition to the cost efficiency and quick printing times), rapid prototyping is much simpler and conducive to your designing process. With 3D printing, you can prototype many times to work out every detail of your robot before you put it into production.
4. Customize Easily
3D printing also allows you to customize your design to your liking. There are no rules or limitations, it’s all up to you. Unlike traditional design and production methods, you can choose every detail yourself, making your robot personalized to your liking. This also allows you to make a truly unique, forward-thinking and game changing robot.
5. Making Complex Ideas Simple
Ultimately, the best part of using 3D printing to create your robotic parts is the fact that it will make this difficult and complex production process much simpler. Simplicity allows for a smoother outcome and also alleviates a lot of stress that comes with bringing your idea to life.
Applications
Rapid prototyping of new industrial robots
3D printing is often utilized where manufacturers need to create a product accurately, quickly and at small quantities. This has led to 3D printers being brought in to prototype industrial robots, helping to aid the development of better, more efficient robots in the industrial sector. With 3D printers enabling a quick turnaround time on producing bespoke components, engineers can speed up the research and design phase, leading to new, higher quality robots being available for use much faster than they would with conventional prototyping.
MAINTENANCE OF INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS
The industry is using the benefits of 3D printing, such as the rapid creation of bespoke products as and when they’re needed, to their advantage. Some of the world’s largest manufacturers are already employing 3D printers to create the robots that they use in their manufacturing processes. Printers are being relied on to produce components of the robot itself, plus the end effectors, be this a grip/grab/weld or any other function.
Manufacture of robotic arms for 3D printing
In discussing the future of smart factories, the innovation around 3D printing robotic arms is routinely touched upon. This in itself is a major new application of 3D printing in industrial robotics. Numerous industry players are developing different kinds of robotic arms with the capability of performing different 3D printing processes. There are already several lab-level cases of Robotic arms being retrofitted to perform laser cladding on metal parts.
