Are you interested in high-volume-production metal additive manufacturing (AM)? If so, first and foremost you must develop a deep understanding of the total cost per part and how it breaks down. Without this understanding, it will be impossible to develop winning business cases that set up you for success. Rather, unexpected costs and surprises run the risk of disappointing you months or years down the road. By understanding this up front, you can develop lasting applications that can outcompete traditional manufacturing.
The three main types of costs can be found in pre-printing, printing, and post-processing/post-printing. Only 10% of the cost comes from pre-printing and 40% from printing. And, what most people find astonishing is that in today’s world of metal 3D printing, as much as 50% of the cost comes from post-processing.
Read the full article, Is Metal Additive Manufacturing for You?
