I'm so glad I found your video! Now I have confidence in brainstorming a small art toy store with 3d printing without fear of having to go into injecting molding. Thank you so much!
Interesting to note: small batches over a period of time is one of the parts of LEAN manufacturing, for all the reasons you went over; additionally, producing in small batches also means you have to keep less money bound up in inventory (raw material, work-in-progress, finished material), and means if the customer decides it doesn't want that finished product you aren't left holding the bag.
I have a question let's say I am looking at two options option 1. make the part from PPSU option 2. have a special ASA filament made with a added flame retardant and make the part thicker to offset the lower elevated temperature strength of the ASA (possible even lower with the added flame retardant). I knew a machinist that would always say "I can tell you what the part will cost after I have made 15 of them" I know there is some truth in that statement , but what is your gut feeling of option 1. vs option 2. ?
This could be a good marketing video. Yes the 3D printed parts CAN be mass produced but it is NOT a cost effective way nor environmentally friendly way to produce million of parts. If you need to produce millions of parts you are really wasting time, money and effort choosing 3D Printing. The carbon footprint of 3D printed parts is simply not able to compete with injection moulding. See the Prusa and Bambu printers, one the part is manufactured in-house the other is mass produced via injection molding. It is too early to argue which company is more successful but Bambu clearly takes the lead in terms of the manufacturing speed.
