Smart Design Saves Time: How to Optimize Assembly with 3D Printing

Smart Design Saves Time: How to Optimize Assembly with 3D Printing

There are many reasons to say 3D printing’s design freedom is one of its greatest selling points, but this month, we’re focusing on one in particular: assembly time. Read on to learn how the right design helped Ossila assemble their USB spectrometer 5 times faster, get tips on how you can do the same, explore our dedicated training sessions for aerospace, and much more.  


Ossila's black 3D-printed spectroscopy kit with a coiled connection cable

Ossila Makes Assembly 5 Times Faster with 3D Printing 

When Ossila chose 3D printing to produce their spectrometer, they struck a winning solution. Discover how it greatly reduced assembly time and made manufacturing easier, all while ensuring accuracy and light-tightness. 

Read the case study >


A man sitting in front of a laptop, with screws and caps on the screen, holding a white 3D-printed model

Optimizing Assembly with 3D Printing 

Additive manufacturing offers unique opportunities to streamline your assembly processes by incorporating smart design features. Consolidating multiple components into single, unified structures can reduce assembly time and minimize the risk of misalignment. Leveraging poka-yoke (error-proofing) techniques in AM design can ensure that parts fit together correctly, preventing common assembly errors.  

Additionally, integrating complex geometries, such as pockets for components like nuts, into the design can simplify the assembly process and eliminate the need for secondary operations. By designing for assembly from the outset, AM can lead to faster, more efficient, and more reliable manufacturing workflows — look no further than this USB spectrometer from Ossila, who made assembly five times faster with 3D printing. 

DfAM: How we can help >


A cylindrical plastic 3D-printed part connected to an open cube-shaped part, printed in PA 12S using Multi Jet Fusion

Need Fast, Smooth Parts? Try PA 12S 

It’s one of our newest MJF materials — and it’s well worth exploring. PA 12S is particularly suited to volume prototyping, especially if your models require excellent surface quality and minimum post-processing, with a greater density than you’ll get from an SLS material.  

Explore PA 12S >


Three men sitting around a table looking at 3D-printed parts for aerospace applications

Looking Back on MRO: Discussing the Future of Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace 

Just like our aerospace customers, time really flies! Last month, we had the pleasure of meeting some of the great minds at MRO Europe in Barcelona, where we discussed the role and future of AM in aerospace, key materials like PA-FR, and the certification of metal 3D-printed parts. 

See the highlights >


Close-up view of the inside of a 3D-printed spacer part for Airbus

Adopt Additive Manufacturing with Tailored Training for Aerospace Businesses 

From design organizations to EASA 21.J holders, aerospace engineers to machine operators, airworthiness officers to quality managers, we tailor our courses to fit your needs. Whether you’re looking to bring additive manufacturing into your business or optimize how you use it, our in-depth knowledge of the entire aerospace value chain will help you achieve your goals. 

Explore our training offer >



Don’t Want to Miss a Thing? See It First on LinkedIn 

Stay in the loop and up to date with every story coming out of Materialise Manufacturing by following us on LinkedIn if you haven’t already. We’d love to have you! 


To view or add a comment, sign in

Explore topics