In different movies, 3D printing is always portrayed as the future of producing high-tech products. Yes, 3D printing has indeed brought great changes to our production model, but in the process of mass production, 3D printing is not the most cost-effective approach. On the contrary, the fast nature of 3D printing is used to help traditional industries materialize ideas for future mass production. Recently, due to work, I have come into contact with some innovation and technology platforms (or “technology commercialization platforms”) led by some chambers of commerce, which aim to support the upgrading and transformation of the industrial and commercial sectors, connect traditional advantageous industries, and develop together with the emerging innovative technology industries to achieve “re-industrialization” in Hong Kong.
And operating these platforms is inseparable from promoting the collaboration of “industry”, “learning”, and “research” (i.e. the industrial and commercial sectors, academic institutions, and scientific research institutions), with a series of settings and supporting facilities to support research and development and trial production, the two backbones of technology commercialization (or the implementation of scientific research results).
Rapid prototyping gives manufacturers advantages
Last time, we mentioned the innovation of 3D printing technology. Rapid prototyping (RP) can be used to develop some production plans to stay competitive in the ever-changing consumer market. Startups on these platforms need to develop and launch new products faster, so rapid prototyping has become a key element of new product development, achieving some of the following important goals:
． Early design or concept verification of design form, assembly and function.
． Final stage product verification based on technical requirements and business goals.
． Allow functional testing to finalize product specifications.
Rapid prototyping can use various manufacturing technologies (such as FDM or SLA) to quickly create physical parts directly from their CAD model data. It can also be used at any stage of the product development cycle and for any component or sub-assembly. As for prototyping, test data can be used to repeat multiple times to obtain the required part. Various applications include: visual prototypes, concept models, functional prototypes, pre-production prototypes, production tool prototypes, and prototype production molds.
Currently, more flexible and efficient production solutions and technologies are beginning to appear in the market, helping local enterprises to sprout and develop in these innovation and technology pilot production bases. In different fields such as health and hygiene, green energy, environmental protection, advanced materials, biotechnology, and the Internet of Things, there are ambitious manufacturers who are determined to upgrade and transform. These platforms are paired with innovative technologies to gradually realize high-value-added production models and provide citizens with higher quality and more comfortable technology products.
(source: https://www.am730.com.hk/…/3d%E6%89%93%E5%8D…/376563…)