Written by Ross Nicholls
Increased demand for Direct Digital Manufacturing
Whether you call it low volume production, low volume manufacturing, low volume prototyping or even the new buzzword of Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM) it all ultimately means the same thing.
Direct Digital Manufacturing or DDM for short is defined as using an additive manufacturing technology to produce end-use parts or manufacturing tools.
At MNL we are seeing an increase in the demand for low volume production services. After a recent evaluation of what we have been working on over the last 6 months, we spotted a large portion of our projects have come from direct digital manufacturing.
Direct digital manufacturing is becoming more widely adopted because of its ability to produce manufactured parts quickly and cost-effectively this is compared to traditional manufacturing methods such as low volume injection moulding.
Direct Digital Manufacturing services
Direct digital manufacturing services are an increasingly popular option as it allows for a smaller investment in tooling and materials while providing fast access to market. Small volume production also bridges the gap between initial prototypes and mass production.
Historically, manufacturing components in low quantities has always been a costly exercise. With the advent of 3D printing and vacuum casting, many constraints previously faced can now be significantly reduced. Technologies such as SLS (Stereolithography) and FDM (Fused deposition modeling) can now be used (especially for non-seen parts), to produce components in quantities as low as 1s and 2s to thousands, but still with exceptional material properties such as flame retardancy and high-heat requirements. Traditional design constraints, usually associated with injection mould tooling for example, can now be ignored enabling designers to be more efficient and reduce part count within assemblies.
How to choose between direct digital manufacturing companies
There are a number of direct digital manufacturing companies available so what makes Malcolm Nicholls different? There are lots of reasons to choose us, including:
- Quick turnaround times
- 3-tier pricing strategy
- Integrated project management
- 50 years of prototyping Experience
- Two of the Largest 3D printers in the UK
What are the advantages of Low Volume Vacuum Casting, also known as “Silicon Tooling” or “PU moulding”?
- Rapid Timeframes – data to desk in rapid timeframes
- Cost Saving – Parts built directly from digital data, no need for tooling.
- Part Consolidation – Combine multiple components into one.
- Short-Run Manufacturing – DDM is an ideal solution when you need only a few thousand parts.
- Complex Parts Made Easy – Building in layers allows unlimited freedom in your design.
- Innovation – The ability to design without the constraints of traditional manufacturing techniques.
Take a look at what services we offer
Related Articles
British Manufacturer Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) Approaches Malcolm Nicholls Ltd To Produce 3D Printed Parts for New Mono R Supercar
BRIGGS AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY (BAC) APPROACHES MNL NEW MONO R SUPERCAR Mono R SupercarBritish manufacturer Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) approaches Malcolm Nicholls Ltd to produce 3d printed large rear wheel arches for the new Mono R supercar BAC came to Malcolm...
Bridging the Prototype to Mass Market Gap: The Power of Low Volume Manufacturing
Bridging the Prototype to Mass Market Gap: The Power of Low-Volume Manufacturing From Prototype to Mass Market Uncover the Benefits of 3D Printing with Malcolm Nicholls Ltd. Explore how additive manufacturing revolutionizes the journey of product development. Discover...
Bridging the Prototype to Mass Market Gap: The Power of Low Volume Manufacturing
Bridging the Prototype to Mass Market Gap: The Power of Low-Volume Manufacturing From Prototype to Mass Market Uncover the Benefits of 3D Printing with Malcolm Nicholls Ltd. Explore how additive manufacturing revolutionizes the journey of product development. Discover...
Stay Up to Date With The Latest News & Updates
Join Our Newsletter