When you’re getting ready to get your design made into a prototype, choosing your method is an extremely important step in the process.
If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably already settled on 3D printing…or you’re at least leaning in that direction. Two of the 3D printing services we offer are SLA and SLS.
Although often overlooked in a world of technology, art can play an important part in our lives. 3D printing enthusiasts and artists are looking for ways to combine these two passions into one beautiful past time.
1. Patents will expire.
This means more ideas and processes will be legally available to inventors. And that means that more products will be available to consumers. In 2014, some SLA patents expired and in 2015, some SLS patents will expire as well. So maybe this will be the year that FDM isn’t the only type of 3D printer available for at home use.
Although 3D printing has been around for thirty years, its medical applications have only been around for half that time.
It all started when, in 2000, a bioengineer named Thomas Boland modified an old inkjet printer so that it would print living cells instead of standard printer ink. Further modifications to the printer made it possible for the tray to move up and down along the Z-axis to print the cells on top of each other in layers—this is what makes it three dimensional instead of just a single layer of cells in a funny shape.
1. Have good packaging.
I don’t just mean the label design, although that’s important too; I mean make sure it fits on the shelves. You have a lot of competition out there, and you have to carve out room for yourself. Check out their packaging and see what it looks like. Is it hanging on a display? Stacked neatly on the shelf? How durable is it? How easy is it to open? Make sure to see how they’re doing it and then do it better.
A provisional patent is a very useful step in your design and invention process. It can help you protect yourself from anyone stealing your idea and it can help when trying to market your design.
When your product is designed but you still need money to produce it, you may be tempted to turn to Kickstarter or IndieGoGo for some crowdfunding help. Before you launch your campaign, read this article for ten tips on how to make it successful.
1. Ignore your own excuses. You may have a dozen (or a hundred) reasons that you can’t do whatever it is you want to do—and a lot of them are grounded in your own fear, not in reality. Practice ignoring the fear-based doubts to avoid being held back from your dreams.
After reading all of the other posts in our series, the last detail you need to think about is which of the injection molding finishes you want to choose for your design.
When you’re designing for injection molding, the shape of your parts can greatly affect the way your mold is designed. Click to see how to plan for hollow and C-shaped objects.
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