Additive manufacturing is continuing to find novel architectural and interior design applications, with use cases such as customized furniture becoming increasingly popular with consumers.
3D打印机制造商Flashforgehas demonstrated how its 3D printing technology can help to optimize furniture design and production processes while finding more applications for additive manufacturing within the sector.
未公开的家具制造商研发主管Lee先生说：“随着市场竞争的越来越严重，我们的成功取决于我们是否可以在较短的时间和更低的成本上获取更好的产品来推销。”“今年早些时候，我们将3D打印整合到原型阶段。这给我们带来了比预期的更多好处。从前七天到10天，每个原型制作时间减少到两到三天，而先前的年度原型成本为30,000美元。
“We can hardly tell how much we could save with the one-time cost of a 3D printer. Most importantly, keeping the prototyping work in-house saves us the worry of intellectual property protection.”
3D打印家具的优点
Typically, the furniture production industry makes use of traditional molding, production and accessory design processes to mass-manufacture items in huge numbers. However, these methods can leave little room for customization or flexibility within the design stage.
根据Flashforge的说法，消费市场越来越偏离该型号转向更加个性化的家具，这些家具可以独特地定制为个人的口味。由于其灵活性，3D打印可以在比大多数常规方法允许的时间短得多的时间范围内满足这一需求。
3D打印还可以在设计过程中快速进行原型制作，并可以打开各种材料选项。通过将增材制造整合到其生产线中，家具制造商可能会达到更快的周期时间并降低成本。
加速家具生产
Flashforge确定了家具生产中的三个领域，可以通过其3D打印技术（即周期时间，过程灵活性和材料种类）进行改进。该公司与未公开的家具制造商进行了案例研究，以在其生产过程中改善这些要素。
The furniture manufacturer in question owns its own production line and factory, and wished to optimize two aspects of its production. First, the company identified that the furniture sector is material-intensive, leading to high material costs that it wished to lower. Secondly, the firm observed that complicated manual operations in its production process were causing inaccurate working hours and issues with delivery.
为了解决这些粘点，Flashforge制定了一个计划，将其3D打印技术应用于制造商生产的特定领域，尤其是其海滩，后院和露营家具。然后Flashforge使用了它的创建者4 3D打印机要为家具打印塑料零件，例如T连接或滚筒，并将3D打印过程的好处与制造商的现有生产方法进行了比较。
与创建者4的3D打印家具4
上个月推出，创建者4 3D打印机是一种高性能的FDM系统，设计具有灵活性和适应性。该机器具有独立的双重挤压（IDEX）设置和400 x 350 x 500毫米的大型构建量，为设计，工程和制造公司提供了高级功能，希望同时进行功能性原型和最终使用的生产应用。
Flashforge由于能够缩短样本零件的设计和生产之间的时间，而降低成本，因此将创建者4部署了该项目。根据Flashforge的说法，其3D打印机可以将周期时间减少五到七天，在大幅缩短的准备时间内提供了“几乎完美”的样本。
Flashforge’s 3D printing technology also enabled the furniture manufacturer to make changes to a sample at any point during the design process, as opposed to time-consuming traditional processes that allow only for a tiny adjustment each time a sample is produced.
根据Flashforge的说法，在家具制造商收到Creator 4 3D打印机后的30天内，它能够继续生产稳定的样品。据报道，持续的65ºC的机器打印室的连续打印超过5,000小时，据报道为生产组件提供了“极好的”条件。同时，对XYZ轴的优化使零件细节越来越准确。
Flashforge试图针对的家具制造商生产的最终区域是各种材料。考虑到家具的不同要求，例如舒适性，力量和稳定性，应有所不同的塑料材料以满足这些特定需求。此类应用中使用的最常见材料是ABS和ASA，但是对于将来的扩展，Flashforge确定了多物质打印机。
创建4分成生产后，家具制造商发现PLA-CF（碳纤维）和ABS在所需的应用中表现良好。由于其碳纤维钢筋，PLA-CF比普通PLA更固体，但仍然轻巧。该材料还可以防止在印刷过程中缩小。
In most cases, Flashforge observed ABS would be suitable for most of the parts produced by the manufacturer, and printed the project parts in ABS. The furniture manufacturer was able to produce both large-scale and thin-layer components as the Creator 4’s three extruders could be changed anytime throughout the production process.
在整个项目中，Flashforge向家具制造商提供了培训和演讲，以确保在生产过程中最佳使用其3D打印技术。
Just as the undisclosed furniture manufacturer has benefited from Flashforge’s Creator 4 3D printer, manufacturers of other plastic products, such as baby carriage strollers, automotive components, parts for electrical appliances, and industrial parts, could also see gains within their prototyping and low-to-medium production processes. Manufacturers who invest in the Creator 4 can benefit from a one-year warranty, comprehensive training, and lifetime support.
最近Flashforge运来了第一批的创建者4 3D打印机s to its suppliers in European countries, with more heading to the region in December. Those interested in finding out more about Flashforge’s machines can联系公司的销售团队or visit theFlashforge网站。
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Featured image shows家具组件3D在创建者4上打印4。通过Flashforge摄影。
