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3d Printing And Its Effect On The Entire Supply Chain Forever

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Introduction

3D printing is a new technology that could potentially change the entire supply chain forever. It is rapidly evolving and gaining a place in many companies. According to a survey performed by the Business Insider as seen in figure 1, 60 percent of firms are either actively using or are evaluating the potential of using 3D printing (Wile). There are an infinite number of uses for 3D printing that come along with advantages and disadvantages.

The 3D Printing Process

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the process of successively layering material to form a 3D object (“What is 3D”). This process begins with the formation of an idea. This object can be anything from a hand, to a vehicle component. Using computer aided design (CAD), the user can transform an idea into a computerized 3D model. However, if the item already exists, the operator can use a 3D scanner to make a digital copy of the object and shorten the process (“What is 3D”). After the user has the digital 3D model, the computer horizontally divides the virtual object into hundreds or thousands of “slices,” as seen in figure 2. The printer then starts producing the object, layer by layer. The printer head moves side-to-side and up and down as it deposits layers of material (“How 3D Printing”). As each successive layer is printed, they are blended so that the human eye can hardly see the individual layers, if at all (“What is 3D”). The mixing process is crucial for the visual and

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