Is 3d Printing Eco-Friendly?

We all do understand the implications that fossil fuels have on mother earth. They kill numerous ecosystems, including plants and animals that keep the earth alive. So much so that there are international organizations that are dedicated to reversing these effects.

The tech industry has sadly been in the limelight of using pollutants in the making of items, but that is actively changing. In the quest to clear e-waste, also electronic-waste, more companies are looking into eco-friendly techs to implement. CNC machining service and 3d Printing are manufacturing methods that people turn to make new unique parts. So the big question we are answering today is: is 3D printing earth-friendly?

Let’s uncover that, starting with a definition of what 3d printing is.

What is 3d printing?

3D printing is an additive manufacturing technique in which an object is built a layer at a time until the design is finished, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing.

Distinct from subtractive manufacturing, where a block of wood is started and then whittled down to a finished product, such as a wooden spoon, the process is reversed to create additive manufacturing.

Because custom 3D printing is an additive process, it produces less waste than traditional manufacturing methods. As an alternative to beginning with a piece of material, you start from scratch and only use the volume of material required to complete the thing.

This is what distinguishes 3D printing as a wise option for making items and one that appears to be more environmentally friendly.

You can make mementos from your favorite TV characters, home gadgets, or a computer case using 3d printers, making it a very intriguing technology. You can get started with our complete novice guide to 3D printing if this seems useful or just a real treat to you.

But please remember that you are now introducing previously unknown plastic products into the world.

3d printing is eco-friendliness

The first stage is to familiarize yourself with your resources.

3d printing technologies and materials come in a variety of shapes and sizes. To focus our attention, we’ll discuss one of the most popular options: fused deposition modeling, or FDM for short.

The unfortunate thing is that 3D printing employs plastic fiber material to make objects, with ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and PLA being the two most common varieties (polylactic acid).

The excellent thing is that all are not created equal, and brief analysis of their characteristics will reveal which has a lower environmental impact.

ABS

- Resistance to high temperatures

- Stable and long-lasting

- Produces poisonous fumes

- Doesn’t deteriorate

- This item is non-recyclable.

PLA

- Resistance to low temperatures

- Does not emit any fumes

- Unsuitable for long-lasting components

- Biodegradable in the long run

- It is recyclable.

You may have noted that one of the two plastics is recyclable, and fortunately for us, that material is PLA, the most extensively used material for 3D printing. ABS lasts longer, though.

Bottom line

Overall, the usage of plastics, machine energy consumption, and the possibility of a limited life cycle mean that 3D printing isn’t entirely eco-friendly—but it’s better than most printing solutions we currently have.