Oct. 3, 2014 | By Alec
While we often hear about wonderful and inventive medical or high-tech applications of 3D printing technology, this doesn't mean it's applicability is limited to those field. Creative manufacturing is by its very nature suitable for just about every conceivable field that uses objects in one way or another.
This is being wonderfully illustrated by the Litchfield, Minnesota-based company GVL Proto Poly, that are taking 3D printing technology to their agricultural customers.
What, 3D printing on farms? That's right. And why not? After all, farmers tend to work with a variety of highly specialized, very expensive machines that can benefit from small customizations or need expensive replacement parts, so 3D printing can offer some wonderful solutions. You might almost wonder why 3D printing hasn't been used in agriculture before.
GVL Proto Poly have been manufacturing parts for a number of industries for over twenty years, and have started offering 3D printing on-demand to their agricultural clientele since 2012. As they explained to reporters from the agricultural news website progressiveforage, even the unnamed company who sold them the printer was sceptical as 3D printing wasn't ever associated with agriculture.
However, the demand for original solutions for individual farmers is larger than one might think. While the company largely produces parts for original equipment manufacturers, some 35 percent of their business is generated by Farmer A or Farmer B who are looking for creative solutions for agricultural problems. After all, simple add-ons to machines can do some wonderful things for productivity levels.
These little things could really benefit the wider industry. As the company's CEO Allan Cronen told reporters, 'If one farmer comes in looking for a solution, he's not the only one with the problem. So if a guy has an idea to modify a piece of equipment, he can come sit down with us and we're all ears.'
Many of the objects GVL Proto Poly creates, however, can't be made using regular desktop 3D printers. To print the necessary agricultural parts, they rely on an unspecified, but very large 3D printer with a support size of 36 inches x 24 inches x 36 inches. Along with all its additional hardware and equipment, it takes up a whole room.
The process itself, however, is much like any 3D printing project, and uses CAD software to create 3D renderings. Objects are then usually printed in nylon or polyethylene, though the size of them often means it can take a few days to complete printing. However, this is still much shorter than the weeks it can take to order an agricultural accessory from China, and often the expenses are lower as well.
What's more, 3D printing is a hit in the agricultural sector. Cronen revealed that he travels throughout the US every year, where he garners lots of attention at farm shows. 'It's changing the way we do business,' says Cronen. '3-D printing is endless. Whatever you can draft and design on a 3-D drafting program or 3-D CAD, you can print; it's just that simple.'
Cronen therefore has every reason to believe that 3D printing is going to have a bright future in the agricultural sector. While the larger printer with support setup won't be a viable investment for many farmers themselves, Cronen believes that affordable, 3D printed parts are going to change many agricultural operations and lead to more innovative creations. After all, any smart guy on a farm could easily prototype the next agricultural breakthrough from his own living room.
While not saving lives or involving robots, this does absolutely illustrate the innovative power that 3D printing technology holds. Now that 3D printing technology is becoming more and more affordable and available, why shouldn't it be capable of changing any industry?
Also check out this video detailing Proto Poly's activities here.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
Maybe you also like:
- India startup showed its first Brahma3 Anvil 3D printer in Mumbai
- The Snap 3D printer with modular design, no fasteners needed
- 2PrintBeta launches fully assembled Printupy 3D printer
- 15-year-old maker creates India's 3D printing waves
- Low-cost RappiDelta Jr., a low component count 3D printer
- Large build volume Solidator DLP desktop 3D printer unveiled on Kickstarter
- Cheap Deltaprintr 3D printer 40% funded on Kickstarter, with 28 days to go
- 3D printing BioPen allows doctors to 'draw' customised implants
- EnvisionTEC, EOS, Arcam AB, voxeljet's new 3D printers attack $630 billion industy
The printer is a Fortus 900mc from Stratasys.
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
