The development and use of three-dimen- sional (3D) printing is helping to increase the functionality of and demand for industrial designers and is also boosting manu-facturing in the country, says Johannesburg 3D design and prototyping studio Parts & Labour owner Brendan Copestake.

“The growth of 3D printing in South Africa can help us to become, once again, producers of various goods, instead of remaining con-sumers of imported products.

“Further, because we are not making our own products, there is little demand for indus-trial designers and draughtspeople, which is demonstrated by the decline in the industry over the past few years.”

However, Copestake argues that manufac-turing initiative can be recaptured in South Africa through the use of plenipotent 3D printing.

“The use of 3D printing is not for mass pro-duction, but rather for the initial phases of production or manufacture. Specifically, scale models can accurately be produced to check on a large-scale design, such as landscapes and building models for architects, and prototypes can be printed to verify their design according to engineering specifications or as a demonstration of the end product to clients.”

The capabilities of 3D printing enable novice hobbyists and designers to create models and mechanical parts quickly, resulting in lower barriers of entry for design and modelling. Copestake notes that hobby rocket enthusiasts are printing certain components of their rockets on 3D printers.

There are specific limitations to the 3D Sys- tems Projet 1500 3D printer Parts & Labour uses and he emphasises that engineers, designers and artists aiming to use 3D printing must determine which 3D printer they can use to achieve the desired effect.

“The Projet 1500 prints in ABS plastic in layers 102 microns thick. This makes it accurate, but the plastic can shatter if dropped and bend if subjected to heat. It is not effective for testing mechanical properties, except under low strains and temperatures.”

The ABS plastic can be copper-plated through electroplating, and further layers can then be added, including gold, silver, nickel and bronze.

However, different 3D printers can print in different materials and colours and, thus, the printer should be matched to the aim of the designer or engineer. Copestake notes that he does provide project management, consulting services and advice on the use and applications of 3D printing.

He currently manages engineering and design projects for a range of industries – from enginee- ring, design and artists to landscapers and architects. Copestake uses his 3D printing and design knowledge to produce nonfunctional prototypes for mechanical engineers and do design work for industrial designers, architects and artists.

“3D printing makes it possible for more people to enter the design, engineering, model-ling and manufacturing industries.

“However, the technology is still novel and there are significant limits that designers and potential users must understand and work around. Despite these limitations, it enables the production of 3D designs, including those made using computer-aided design software programs, and this can have a significant impact on new designers, established design companies and the manufacturing industry,” he concludes.