Slant 3D is one of the highest capacity 3D printing farms in the entire world. We produce 5-10,000 parts per week and that number is only growing.

Our fully automated production 3D printing factory has truly changed the scale of 3D printing. It no longer costs $50 apiece to print 10 pieces. It cost $0.50 apiece to print 1000 pieces.

But it wasn't always like this. Recently our founder, Gabe Bentz, was honored with a chance to speak at a Tedx event about the the journey that led to the creation of Slant 3D.

Slant 3D was born from the necessity to have a fast and flexible means of manufacturing a niche product at scale. When we started, we did not expect 3D printing to be a viable solution, as many do, but we ended up proving ourselves wrong.

But we will let Gabe give you the low down. Enjoy.

Market testing and doing pilot productions of a new product is one of the most expensive parts of developing that product. Small run tooling is very expensive and must be recreated for every design change. But not doing it can result in investment in a product that will not perform well in the market.

Originally published on TeachThought

3D printing sounds like something from science fiction, but the process is similar to that of CNC machining, where billets are cut into specific shapes and products. But rather than cutting, it prints.
A 3D printer works by “printing” objects–but instead of using ink, it uses more substantive materials–plastics, metal, rubber, and the like. It scans an object–or takes an existing scan of an object–and slices it into layers it can then convert into a physical object.
The result is a product that while not as intricate, durable, or functional as the real-world equivalent, is otherwise a real thing that didn’t exist 30 seconds before you printed it.
In fact, what it is you’re actually producing depends on what is being printed: if it’s toy jewelry, rubber balls, and plastic chess pieces your after, you’re printing not an analogue of the real thing, but the real thing itself. Confused yet?
As far as how this can be used in education, it’s a matter of bringing objects out of the computer screen and into the hands of students for inspection, analysis, and other processes that can benefit from physical manipulation. In that way, 3D printers may eventually be able to bridge the gap between the physical and the digital–use a screen to find what you need, then print it into existence. ​

Production 3D printing allows for the creation, iteration, and mass production of hardware products. The trouble is that few people are familiar with how to design practical products for the process. So we have launched the SlantStore.

The SlantStore is an online marketplace for new 3D printed products. We will be creating and curating 3D printed designs which can be used by the everyday person. From these products, designers should be able to learn the methodologies and sensibilities that really use the capabilities of 3D printing.

With the SlantStore we plan to demonstrate that 3D printed items be great products for the everyday person. Not just the 3D printing enthusiast. After all, for the end user, the manufacturing process is irrelevant as long as it is a good product.

We will be launching new products on the SlantStore weekly, in conjunction with our "Printed Summer" initiative. Check them out and let us know of products that you would like to see.

Republished from Stratasys

3D printed jigs and fixtures open up new possibilities on manufacturing-floor productivity. 3D printed jigs and fixtures are built from a digital CAD file rather than hard tooling, allowing you to produce aids on-demand, as needed. 

Complexity 
3D printing manufacturing aids, rather than machining or molding, allows you to design for optimal performance, and additive manufacturing places fewer constraints on tool configuration. The addition of complexity does not typically increase build time or cost compared to traditional manufacturing methods.

Reduction of Costs
With advantages such as quick turnarounds, part consolidation and near labor-less production, 3D printing jigs and fixtures delivers an overall cheaper venture. TS Tech achieved 31% direct cost savings moving to a 3D printed fixture. The additive process also reduces material waste and helps you avoid costly expenses associated with inventory and storage.

Enhanced Performance
The ease of customization and ergonomic enhancements with 3D printed jigs and fixtures delivers an overall improved performance on the production floor. CAD files can be easily modified before each build, allowing for the painless customization of tools and aids. 

These customizations can include contours that improve tool handling and ease of use to help increase worker comfort. Improve efficacy and safety for employees with weight reduction from 3D printed jigs and fixtures. Weight savings up to 90% have been achieved by utilizing high-strength thermoplastics instead of metals. 

Design Freedom
​A complicated jig or fixture that may have been designed for manufacturability and requires extensive machining or other conventional production methods can find new value with 3D printing technology. The design freedom of additive manufacturing removes traditional manufacturing constraints and opens new opportunities for tool configuration.