Researchers in China have presented a study on a modular method of 4D printing that aims to overcome the geometrical limitations of the process. The advantage of 4D printing, based on a digitally controlled 2D-to-3D transformation, is that it forgoes the layer-by-layer fabrication process of 3D printing, resulting in a faster production method. However, the […]
To 3D print or not to 3D print on demand? Duke professor tackles stock queries
Professor Jeannette Song, of the Duke University Fuqua School of Business, North Carolina, has created a mathematical model to help firms balance the costs between 3D printing on demand and spare part storage. Described in a paper titled “Stock or Print? Impact of 3D Printing on Spare Parts Industry“, the model helps identify which parts to […]