From Guest Blogger Romeo: Enormous Energy Consumption – The Dark Side Of 3D Printing

There has been a lot of hype lately concerning the 3D printing technology with many technology environmentalists hailing it as a great way of eliminating manufacturing waste. While there is some truth in what you can do through this technology to lower waste in manufacturing, there is no doubt that this technology has a dark side as far as energy consumption is concerned.

The extra energy consumed by this technology does not by comparison compensate for the reduced manufacturing waste and this takes us back to the drawing board to consider whether this technology can provide what it really promises. Although this technology has been hailed as a way forward, the truth of the matter is that it is yet to evolve in such a way that it can substitute full manufacturing methods. Nonetheless, 3D technology in its current budding status does offer the prospects of reduced transportation, waste and prototyping emissions.

It is therefore worth pursuing as it offers more sustainable business processes useful in different industries. However, this does not strip the technology of its dark side and this is not only because 3D machines are energy inefficient but because they are also a major source of pollution thus making them unsuitable environmentally. With the recent worrying trends of global warming, it is clear that 3D printing machines are potentially hazardous and thus should be used with care.

Regular printing ink cartridges (source: Artonery)

According to researchers, the printing machines are wasteful and have a major impact on the environment, something that needs to be looked into extensively. At the moment, many governments have come in to regulate the use of 3D technology as unregulated manufacturing could result in some very serious consequences.

Those who campaign for the use of 3D technology have outlined the benefits provided by these machines one of them being that factories will eliminate their shipping steps while at the same time shutting down some of their operations. Although this is a good benefit to consider (if only it did not lead to the loss of jobs), it is clear that printing using the technology is a slower process and the printers have to be operated for long hours and kept running for days. This will definitely represent enormous energy drain especially for those using larger printing machines or those involved in complex printing tasks.

3D printing materials (Source: 3D PFB)

It therefore seems like 3D printing technology offers us great benefits on one hand but takes the same way through the other hand. What is amazing is that the amount of energy used by this new technology is by far enormous compared to the benefit of reduce wastage that it promises. This will ultimately mean that small manufacturers and consumers must bear the burden of much energy consumed during the manufacturing process as they use the printers in their offices and homes.

Maybe as the technology advances, alternative energies will be useful in 3D printing thus alleviating much of the current ecological and financial burden associated with this technology. Until that happens, it is clear that this evolving technology has its own share of benefits but users must never ignore the dark side that is enormous energy consumption.

source: 3ders