How is 3D Printing being Used in Dubai?

3d printing makes objects where various layers of raw materials are laid down in varying shapes. 3d printing is also known as additive manufacturing, which is different from the conventional method of manufacturing that was focused on the removal of solid material from an unformed mass.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy. This is a unique global initiative whose aim is to exploit technology for the service of humanity and to make Dubai a 3d hub. This strategy aims to cut costs in many sectors, especially the construction and medical sectors in Dubai.

Advantages of 3D Printing

3d printing has replaced conventional manufacturing in many industries because of its multiple applications. Understanding the advantages of using 3d printing enables designers to make informed decisions.

Additive manufacturing is fast compared to convention methods of production. You can upload complex designs from a CAD model that can be printed faster. This saves time compared to conventional methods which took longer.

Designers often worry about how to manufacture parts effectively. Most objects require several steps during conventional manufacturing. The order of these steps affects both the manufacturability and quality of the design. Additive manufacturing completes an object in a single step.3d printing also allows for customized designs.

3D Printing application in Dubai

Although 3d printing has been around for many years, its popularity has increased in recent years. This is due to its many applications in different sectors. In the past 3d printing materials were expensive; however, with modern technology and inventions, this cost has reduced significantly. Below are ways in which 3d printing is used in Dubai.

Education

More schools are incorporating 3d printing Dubai into their curriculum. 3d printing in education helps to prepare students by allowing them to create prototypes easily and at a cost-friendly price. They make prototypes they can hold and learn from.

Additive manufacturing bridges the gap between the images on your screen and ideas; this allows you to create ideas in 3-dimension. 3d printers are now common in schools, and university students can utilize them for their projects and classes. Students can explore architectural principles, design, and engineering. They can also create duplicate fossils instead of visiting the museum and damaging the original artifacts.

Medicine

3d printing has seen a revolution in medicine. Over the last few years, additive manufacturing has been utilized in bioprinting to create biomaterials that imitate natural tissues. However, the biggest and the most successful use is for making 3d-printed prosthetics. It is expensive and challenging to make prosthetics that fit a patient, but with 3d printing, doctors can measure, model, and develop prosthetics at a lower cost.

In the past, children who needed prosthetics had to wait and get one when they were sure they would not need to replace it regularly. With additive manufacturing Dubai hospitals can print prosthetics for kids after every few months.

3d printing can also be used to create metal orthopedic implants. Additive manufacturing can create implants with porous surfaces; this makes it easier for them to merge with patients’ bones.

Prototyping and Manufacturing

Did you know that 3d printing was first developed for faster prototyping? Conventional methods used injection-molded prototypes, which were expensive and took longer to produce. Additive manufacturing UAE companies minimize the lead time required in conventional manufacturing; this allows the prototype to be ready in hours compared instead of weeks.

Conventional manufacturing is expensive for mass production. 3d printing is most effective if you don’t need to produce goods in large volumes. Advancement in technology has also made it possible to create the final product and not just the prototype.

Construction

Additive manufacturing offers various strategies in construction. Dubai municipality unveiled the world’s largest printed structure. The building will be used as an innovation center. It took a year to finish constructing/printing the 2-story building. The project cost between Dh 800,000 to Dh1 million, which is almost half the cost used in conventional methods of construction. The workforce also used in additive manufacturing in this project is also 50% lower compared to traditional methods.

Art and Jewelry

3d printing has revolutionized the world of jewelry making and art. Jewelers can utilize 3d printers to experiment and make designs that are not possible to make with conventional methods. It also allows for individually customized pieces at a lower cost using materials like gold, platinum, or other 3d printing materials like a polylactic acid filament. Artists, on the other hand, can experiment with different ideas to create masterpieces.

Final Words

3d printing has been around for many years; however, it wasn’t widely used because of its costs. Nowadays, additive manufacturing is utilized in many industries because it is fast and cost-effective compared to traditional methods of production. It has been used to revolutionized medicine, art, and even construction industries.