Industrial-grade 3D printing: tinkering or cutting-edge quality for industry?

At the turn of the year, we had access to production facilities twice the size of the previous ones. The new facilities are unprecedented in Finland. There are still preconceptions about 3D printing, from small machine shops in 3D printing at home. When it comes to industrial 3D printing, the truth is entirely different. We thought that the best way to see, hear and experience what industrial 3D printing is today is to invite our clients to visit us. In April, we organized an invitation-only event for almost 50 participants. Read what it was all about in this blog post!

“3D printing is starting to play a significant role in Finnish industry – and no wonder. It helps companies achieve cost savings, improve efficiency and production rate, create better and more functional parts, produce sustainably, and, in the best case, offer competitive advantages. Companies become more self-sufficient as parts can be ordered locally in a few days, while digital spare parts ensure that millions are not tied to warehouse shelves”, says Toni Järvitalo, CEO of 3D Formtech.

The best moment to start 3D printing was yesterday, but the second best is today. Industrial-grade 3D printing is no longer just a technology of the future – it is already here. If you want to keep up with progress, keep reading. How does 3D printing compare to other manufacturing methods? What is the situation in Finland and at the rest of the world? Where and how should you start if you are interested in 3D printing? This blog post answers these questions!

There is far too little talk about post-treatment of 3D prints. However, it not only makes the part or product better, it also helps it stand out from the competition in the market. As 3D printing is increasingly used in many companies, a basic level is no longer sufficient. As more and more printed parts are used as end products, their appearance, durability and features are becoming increasingly important. In this blog, we give you three reasons why you should use post-treatment.

“The biggest benefit is definitely time. 3D printing allows us to speed up the testing required for product development, which also speeds up other processes. It also allows us to get production up and running quickly by printing the parts we want and making sure they are in the right shape, function and design.” Read more about iLOQ Oy's experiences of cooperating with 3D Formtech!

Are 3D printed parts of high quality and durability? That is a question that many people are still asking. At this point, it is important to remember that home 3D printing and industrial 3D printing are two different things. We manufacture a variety of parts for different companies and for very demanding needs – from prototypes to finished products and spare parts. It is therefore clear that the parts must be of very high quality. What does quality assurance at 3D Formtech mean?

The close cooperation between Grundium and 3D Formtech has lasted for years. 3D printing has been part of the Grundium microscope scanner since its development. The protective cover under the WiFi antenna of the device is 3D printed, and the 3D printed cover of the overview camera has made the camera lens more visually striking. 3D printed parts are also used inside the machine.

Harvia’s collaboration with 3D Formtech started a couple of years ago. ”We needed a small 3D printable part for the proximity sensor on a door switch, and an anchoring part for its receptacle. It was a brand new product. I was already familiar with 3D printing, so I contacted 3D Formtech directly”, says Joonas Hintikka, Product Designer at Harvia.

“More traditional manufacturing technology is quite restrictive on the geometry of the parts, because you have to get the parts out of the injection mould, for example. The measuring device manufactured by Aeromon is very complex, and 3D printing is simply an easier way to produce many components than any other method”. Read how Aeromon has utilized 3D printing and what a collaboration it has been with 3D Formtech!