3D Technology

in Manufacturing

 

Vocabulary

adopt	reluctant	conventional
inject	titanium	superfluous
core (2)	infancy	component
pump	foundry	hydraulic pump
viable	excavate	mass production
on site	spare (2)	spare parts

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 
 

Transcript

The design comes from a computer; the body from a 3D printer.

The EDAG Company in Fulda, Germany is creating the car of the future.

Processes that used to take years can now be completed within weeks with the help of 3D printing technology.

If this new method gains acceptance, it could lead to radical changes in car production — and even make conventional factories superfluous.

Johannes Barckman, EDAG Styling Engineer: “A lot of industries will suffer, for example tool makers and machinery manufacturers. They’ll suffer because the plants will no longer be needed in future production.”

The aircraft industry has been a key supporter of 3D printing technology.

The LZN Laser Center in Hamburg already makes components for Airbus planes.

While the car industry has been reluctant to adopt the new technology in many areas, lightweight and technically complex components are already being made here.

The printing process is creating titanium mounting brackets and fuel injectors.

The Laser Center’s director says 3D production technology is still in its infancy . . . but he predicts thing will look very different a decade from now.

Clause Emmelmann, LZN Laser Center CEO: “The market will be worth 100 billion for the engineering sector.

A hundred billion Euros!

That means that it will worth approximately 1% of the industry’s total value worldwide.”

In traditional industrial companies, 3D printers are also gaining in popularity.

Bosch Rexroth uses the technology in its foundries.

Complicated cores for hydraulic pumps are made by printers here.

The components are used for excavators and SUVs.

But the technology still isn’t ready for mass production.

Florian Muller, Bosch Rexroth: “Currently, the technology is effective for small serious production and individual components.

But we see it moving forward, making it economically viable for larger production volumes.”

Larger scale printing technology will make it possible to develop new models faster, produce spare parts on site and reduce costs.

With their products study, the EDAG engineers are showing the way production is moving.

Questions

1. 3D printing is only for home decorations. Is this correct or wrong?

2. Will 3D printing revolutionize manufacturing?

3. Will this be good, bad, both good and bad, it depends?

4. Are 3D printers making entire airplane and automobile parts and components? Will it do so in the next 30 years?

5. At the moment, what is 3D printing in manufacturing used for?
 
 
A. Have you seen any 3D printers or products?

B. Do you know any companies or businesses that use 3D printing?

C. What would you like to “print out” or produce with a 3D printer?

D. How could your company, organization or school utilize 3D technology?

E. Everyone is thrilled with 3D printing technology. What do you think?

F. Is this a passing fashion? What might happen in the future?