MECE E1001X Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Injection Molding Machine, Metal Lathe, 3D Printing

• School: Columbia University
• Department: Mechanical Engineering
• Course: MECE E1001X
• Professor: Hod Lipson

Document Summary

A process that creates a physical object directly from a software blueprint. Example: 3d printing, laser cutting, cnc milling, waterjet cutting, 3d printing: costs as the same as simplicity. Fabricating an ornate or complex shape does not require more time, skill or cost than printing a simple block. Also, free complexity will disrupt traditional pricing models and change the calculation of cost of manufacturing. Traditional manufacturing are less versatile and can make limited shapes. Like a human artisan, a 3d printer can fabricate a different shape each time. 3d printing removes the over- head costs associated with re-training human machinists or re-tooling factory machines. A single 3d printer needs only a different digital blueprint and a fresh batch of raw material. Mass manufacturing is built on the backbone of the assembly line. In modern factories, machines make identical objects that are later assembled by robots or human workers.