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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAdditive Manufacturing is Here to Stay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The actual reality of AM is that many companies have embraced 3D printing as an important part of their product development process. According to\u00a0Business Wire<\/a>, additive manufacturing generated $12 billion in revenue in 2020 and is forecast to reach $78 billion by 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key to understanding the value of 3D printing is to think of it as just another manufacturing tool and a way to bring greater value to an entire business. As industries continue to adopt AM, it is essential to keep in mind that key elements of traditional manufacturing no longer apply to additive manufacturing, beginning with the basics of how parts are designed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoiding Design Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, design rules for traditional manufacturing techniques are consistent. However, design for additive manufacturing requires a new approach to achieve optimized parts ready for 3D printing. Mistakes in the design process can quickly put an end to any 3D-printed part. Some builds can take hours or even days for large parts to be printed, so you want to ensure that time is not wasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Optimizing part designs for 3D printing production relies heavily on using the right tools. For example, Print3D is an easy-to-use SOLIDWORKS feature that helps you properly prepare your model for additive manufacturing. SOLIDWORKS has taken the initiative to create an intuitive 3D design software environment that aids manufacturers in designing 3D-printed parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can avoid additive manufacturing problems by leveraging\u00a0SOLIDWORKS 3D design\u00a0tools to help you manage, identify and correct 3D-printing issues before building the part. Here are just a few ways to avoid 3D printing problems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember That Size Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Partnering with Wohlers Associates, SOLIDWORKS provides a library of thousands of 3D printers with the corresponding build chamber dimensions. If your model is too big, red highlights show where it is outside the build envelope. Print3D also enables you to scale your model up or down to fit inside the chosen printer and even orient it to fit so you can maximize the size of the model without upgrading your printer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Detect Issues Before Build<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Small gaps and thin walls may cause a design to print thicker than expected, not print properly, or not print at all. SOLIDWORKS Print3D automatically helps you spot and avoid such issues before you send the job to print. You can also visualize the layers to see any potential \u201cstair-stepping\u201d that can occur with shallow gradients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carefully Consider Support Structures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Support structures can harm the aesthetics or function of the areas they are connected to while adding material costs and slowing the build. The Print3D feature indicates which faces of a design may require support structures, thereby providing you the flexibility to tweak the design as needed to reduce them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Properly Designed for AM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fast and seamless 3D printing begins with parts properly designed for additive manufacturing, making it quick and easy to prepare designs for the final build. If you\u2019d like to learn more, download\u00a0The Future of 3D Printing Designing for Additive Manufacturing<\/em><\/a>\u00a0feature article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/too20big.png\")
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