Canadian manufacturers poised to take 3D printing risks in 2021
by CM Staff
Global 3D printing industry worth $8.71 billion in 2020, resilient in the face of the pandemic.
Structur3d’s Inj3ctor platform
As the 3D printing market continues to remain robust 2021, manufacturers are well positioned to take a risk on 3D printing’s capabilities beyond just plastics and plastic composites. A wide range of materials are used in the additive manufacturing process for different markets, and Structur3d is a start-up currently offering 3D printed rubber for manufacturing applications. As organizations continue to evolve in a post-pandemic climate, they will be looking to competitive solutions like the Inj3ctor printer to help them get a head start on additive manufacturing and its applications in 2021.
Currently, 3D printed rubber is creating a product with a long lead and cure time. 3D printed rubber requires a lot more time due to its composition, and products and processes suffer because of how long rubber takes to cool and finish. Compared to the current landscape, the Structur3d’s Inj3ctor is able to finish rubber molds in minutes.
The platform takes Structur3d’s existing Discov3ry system and modifies it so that, rather than printing 3D rubber materials directly, they are pumped to a 3D-printed mold.
Where it would take an entire day to fill and create a baseball by other 3D printers, the Inj3ctor can do so in an efficient manner, perfect for additive manufacturing organizations. This has critical implications in the manufacturing industry, where large scale automotive and aerospace organizations are continually looking to improve on existing manufacturing processes. The Inj3ctor would allow manufacturers to customize seating molds and apply changes to air flow, comfort, and heating to all types of seating and cushioning.
Structur3d is not the only start-up exploring 3D printing and its applications in manufacturing either. Collider Tech and AddiFab are two other companies using 3D injection molding for additive manufacturing. This type of solution can be applied to tools that are not being developed anymore, but still need to be serviced. Solutions like these allow manufacturers to still service their older products and retain customers by using printers like the Inj3ctor to fulfill molding needs. Manufacturing rubber pieces would be an otherwise lengthy and inefficient process without reliable injection molding.
As automotive manufacturers remain resilient in the face of COVID-19, it will be imperative to respond to solutions like the Inj3ctor. Start-ups like Structur3d will continue to offer new solutions to help the industry stay competitive in a global market.
