| A lot of small engineering and architectural firms | | | | the company orders its scale models from an |
| are hesitant to invest on a 3D printer of their | | | | external service provider, there is the inevitable |
| own. This hesitation is understandable, though, | | | | paperwork that needs to be done to place the |
| given that not all these firms have an actual need | | | | orders, to requisition materials and to manage |
| to have their very own 3D printer. Add to that | | | | receipts. The administrative assistants that the |
| the average cost of a 3D printer. Entry level units | | | | company employs will also have to keep track of |
| can set back a small firm around $15,000 for the | | | | all that paperwork. This load of paperwork can be |
| printer alone and not counting the accessories and | | | | greatly reduced if the 3D printing is done in-house |
| resins that it may require. Not all companies have | | | | instead of outsourced. |
| the capital to invest on such a piece of equipment. | | | | 3. Marketing completed at a faster rate. The firm |
| Nonetheless, if the need is there and the capital | | | | can impress their clients by producing the scale |
| for investing in such a machine is available, these | | | | models required for their project earlier than |
| companies would do well to have their own 3D | | | | expected. While this does not assure that the |
| printer in the office. That is because the 3D | | | | actual project can be completed earlier, the clients |
| printer can do a lot in increasing productivity and | | | | can at least have an idea of what the finished |
| sales for the company. Here are just four | | | | output will be ahead of time. |
| benefits that a company can gain out of having | | | | 4. Higher rate of flexibility. With 3D printers, it is |
| its own 3D printer. | | | | easier to implement changes in the design without |
| 1. Reduced time in producing scale models. Scale | | | | having to go through weeks of preparing new |
| models are necessities in the engineering field. | | | | scale models based on these design changes. This |
| Before there were 3D printers and rapid | | | | gives the company a greater ability to become |
| prototyping machines, these scale models are | | | | more flexible and adjust more quickly when |
| constructed by hand and with the use of tools. | | | | changes need to be put into the design. Greater |
| However, it can take weeks to create scale | | | | flexibility can also allow for a higher degree of |
| models the old-fashioned way and the models | | | | accuracy and quality in the final output. |
| themselves can be inaccurate. With 3D printing, | | | | In the long run, having its own 3D printer can lead |
| companies can reduce the time in producing these | | | | to cost savings for the company because it does |
| models from weeks to a matter of hours. This | | | | not have to deal with outrageous costs that print |
| will allow the company to take on more projects | | | | service providers sometimes charge for producing |
| without engaging additional manpower. | | | | scale models. |
| 2. Reduces time devoted to paperwork. When | | | | |