Planes, trains, and automobiles come to mind in terms of 3D printing today, and the technology is being put to very serious use for global infrastructure and transportation. Additive manufacturing can change the face of how repairs and maintenance are made on trains, which throughout the years can be enormously extensive—and expensive. Bringing all the benefits of 3D printing on board, however, changes a lot of processes. The bottom line is affected substantially as parts can be made so much easier—and in many cases better, stronger, and lighter in weight. Turnaround in production time is affected exponentially, labor is decreased, and many parts can be made on-side, on-demand. There are many critical details to consider with trains though, beginning with safety. These are machines with a vast amount of moving parts that must be maintained with excellence, for decades. Dealing with schedules, inventory, passengers, cargo, and the actual running […]

Click here to view original web page at 3dprint.com