Micro-Manufacturing Using Online 3D Printing

As an additive manufacturing process, 3D printing provides conceptualizers and designers an opportunity to quickly produce physical components and concept models at reasonable costs. Such manufacturing is distinct from mass production involving traditional subtractive machining processes. This paper briefly describes microscale manufacturing involving a series of 3D-printing-related processes, including 3D modeling, 3D model slicing, printing, and production. Furthermore, specifications of 3D printers, a major component of the 3D printing process, impedes the entry of new micro-manufacturing businesses, such as the maximum printing volume, printing material, positioning accuracy, layer thickness, and price, were analyzed. In addition, online 3D printing service could be an alternative to overcome the difficulty of new entry to micro-manufacturing by a step-by-step instruction through internet. Commercially available online 3D printing services were surveyed and compared in material and cost in this paper.