3D Printers

Companies have long recognized the value in 3D printing in the innovation process: It makes development faster and cheaper. Before 3D printing, modifying product parts and then testing them required complex casting or tooling that could take up to six months. 3D printing allows companies to rapidly build not just parts, but entire products in just a few hours.  And now it has become affordable for all.

Not only for hobbyists but design engineers working in companies and labs are now using 3D printing to quickly make and evaluate concept parts. 3D printing is now commonly employed in the earliest stages of innovation. You can make a mock-up that others can look at and physically touch, making instant suggestions and corrections - with another iteration produced within an hour.