Whether 3D printing will make the mold industry decline?

First of all, we must distinguish the role, 3D printing in small batch, non-standard, structurally complex parts manufacturing has a natural advantage, mainly to help you quickly verify the model in new research and new design. The significance of industrial molds is to achieve high-efficiency production in large quantities, and greatly reduce production costs, so the production advantages of molds can’t be replaced for the time being.

Secondly, we know that the biggest advantage of 3D printing is that it can directly generate parts of any shape from computer graphics data without mechanical processing or any mold, which greatly shortens the development cycle of products, improves productivity and reduces production costs. At the same time, 3D printing can also print out some traditional production technology can’t be produced, and simplify the entire production process with fast and effective characteristics.

Therefore, 3D printing will not make the mold industry go down. On the contrary, it can help us reduce the cost of trial and the problem of low volume and high price, and promote the development schedule of the project. 3D printing and mold manufacturing are not substitutes for each other, but complement each other. 3D printing shows its unique advantages in early research and development and small batch production, while mold manufacturing shows its irreplaceable efficiency and cost advantages in mass production.

By combining the advantages of both, we can choose the most suitable production method at different stages and under different needs. For example, in the early stage of new product development, 3D printing is used to quickly make samples, verify and improve, and reduce trial and error costs; After the product is finalized, the mold is used for mass production to ensure high efficiency and low cost. This not only accelerates time to market, but also ensures maximum product quality and economic benefits.