3D printing is something which has been looked at as science fiction for a long time, but the reality is that it is being done all of the time in the product design sphere. They use 3D printers to print physical representations / prototypes of the various product designs a design agency have produced. This serves a number of purposes, but principally it is done to give those involved a better idea of what the product would look like if it was properly made.

3D printing services can be used as a refinement tool, helping product designers refine a basic design model into something which ergonomically and aesthetically sound. This is particularly difficult to fully grasp if you don’t have a prototype at hand, while using a 3D model can allow you to immediately grasp where the problems are and how you can improve the product.

A typical product design, for smaller companies anyway, will see a number of product designs end up as possibilities. 3D printing can help businesses determine a lot, but it is also quite expensive. Each 3D printing development can cost anywhere from £100 to £1000. This may not always be the case though, as new technology to improve efficiency, precision and speed is being developed all  the time.