Custom Manufacturing

REPLICATOR,Office 2007

Putting the “Custom” Back In Customer
Better Be Running – Additive Fabrication Made Simple
by Joseph Flaherty on May 9, 2009

Mass customization is an exciting concept but understanding various manufacturing processes can be difficult. There are dozens of technologies and most are poorly documented.
“Better be Running” is the most complete intro to additive fabrication (3D printing, cast urethane production,Office 2010 Standard Product Key, and low volume injection molding) you can find. The book is an outgrowth of the author’s business,Office 2010 Product Key, QuickParts,Office 2010 Product Key, which provides a wide range of custom fabrication/rapid prototyping services and the practical expertise is evident.
Better Be Running is written in a conversational tone and provides an overview of each technology, clear direction on when to use it, when not to,Office 2007 Key Sale, and how much it will cost in time and money. It reads like a transcript of a lecture from a great manufacturing course and assumes very little prior knowledge. It is hard to find better detail on the processes described anywhere, including the equipment manufacturer’s websites. For example, it covers tips like how to orient parts in various machines to get superior results. One criticism is that the book only covers technologies offered by Quickparts and leaves out laser cutters and other tools that may work better for a given job.
The book’s title is a bit misleading. Taken from an African proverb popularized by Thomas Friedman it suggests the book is primarily about the challenges of doing business in globally connected supply chain. While “Better be Running” does cover this, the bulk of the book is centered on the nitty-gritty of making parts with 3D printers and related tools. The author includes some thoughts on politics and personal morality, but they seem a bit out of place next to highly technical data like the size of a build chamber on an FDM 3D printer. I would have liked more information on the future of manufacturing and to have the other concepts fleshed out in another volume.
My chief criticism of “Better be Running” is that it is a “book”. The information it covers is largely tactical and likely to change rapidly. Fortunately, the author has also set up a Ning social network called Rapidmfg.org to facilitate the sharing of info and best practices as this quickly changing industry evolves. I would recommend checking out the book and website if you have any interest in this technology.
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Tagged as: 3d printing, Custom Manufacturing, Injection molding, mass customization