Supply chain delays: The advantages of Additive Manufacturing

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A huge number of business is affected by supply chain delays. That is why Stratasys has published a guide discussing how three polymer 3D printing technologies – SAF, P3 and FDM — are solid solutions for overcoming supply chain challenges.

Due to extended traditional manufacturing timelines, many companies most likely experienced longer lead times for specific support machine components like cable grommets, cable clips or ducts. The lack of necessary parts and flexibility can hinder production — costing manufacturers time and money as well as impacting their output and reputation. However, producing necessary industrial equipment parts that meet performance requirements — on demand and at the desired volume — is achievable.

While traditional manufacturing for industrial machine components can result in delayed part delivery, with additive manufacturing industrial machine components can be printed immediately at low and high volumes — enabling a seamless transition from product development to production. In as little as a few hours, these critical parts can be designed, printed and ready for implementation.

During production of the H350 3D printer, a crucial part required for completion (circuit board bracket) could not be sourced due to supply chain delays. The Stratasys production team realized that they could utilize their own SAF technology to print the bracket immediately. This allowed the printer to be completed and advance to the next stage of development. This end-use part is now used in serial production and can be found in all H350 3D printers.

Time to part is also a challenge that the Origin One 3D printer is designed to successfully overcome. Lead times for polymer molding can take weeks or months. But by implementing leading-edge P3 technology, users can achieve a mold-like surface finish in a fraction of the time. This means businesses looking to launch production as quickly as possible can rely on the Origin One printer for short runs for testing as well as product launches. Additionally, when a part shortage hits or lead times increase, flexible production with Origin One can provide short- term fixes or long-term solutions for manufacturing businesses.

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