Companies considering introducing 3D printing or wanting to streamline its use in practice met with researchers and experts in the field of additive technologies at the SUPPORT4SME project workshop. The program offered a comprehensive introduction to FDM 3D printing, an overview of materials and software, and practical demonstrations that helped participants better understand the possibilities of this technology in everyday industrial use.
The introduction to the workshop focused on the SUPPORT4SME project itself, which connects companies with researchers and experts across disciplines. Company representatives learned about opportunities for cooperation, available infrastructure, and a platform that helps find specific technological solutions to real industrial problems.
The main part of the program focused on FDM 3D printers, i.e., Fused Deposition Modeling technology, which is one of the most widespread forms of 3D printing in industrial practice. The principle is simple: the object is created by gradually applying molten filament layer by layer according to a digital model. It is this simplicity and flexibility that makes FDM printing an accessible tool not only for development departments but also for smaller companies.
Participants learned about the most commonly used materials, such as PLA, PETG, and ABS, their properties, and typical uses. Practical issues that determine the quality of the final print were also discussed, such as correct printer settings, calibration, temperature selection, print speed, and layer height.
Software was an equally important part of the workshop. Participants went through the process of preparing a 3D model for printing using Slicer, which converts a digital model into instructions that the printer can understand. This is where details such as the thickness of the object’s outer shell, fill density, and print time optimization are decided.
One of the reasons people attended the workshop was that they are introducing 3D printing production and wanted advice on the basics.
„We know about the technology in general, but there are always a lot of details that you don’t fully understand. It was these little things that were very useful for us,“ said one of the participants, evaluating the workshop. He added that, in their case, this technology has great potential for the future.
„Our group, which deals with unmanned vehicles, is newly established. We are building our own laboratories, and 3D printing is one of the key technologies for us at the moment. We are now gradually learning how to work with it,“ he adds.
Another respondent from an industrial company, who has been involved in 3D printing for a long time, also appreciated the practical dimension of the workshop.
„I refreshed what I already knew, but some parts were really interesting. Especially the demonstrations with the equipment in the laboratory. You don’t get to see 3D printers like that very often.„
He uses 3D printing in his work every day. „I have two printers at home and one at work, mainly for making fixtures for attaching parts to machines. This saves us time and money—instead of machining, which would make the part more expensive, we simply print it,“ he adds.
Another respondent has also encountered 3D printing: „I already know a lot of the basics, but I learned about other new, non-standard materials. I was most interested in the 3D printer from Prusa Research, which was on display here. I’m more used to Bambu Lab,“ says another participant, adding that they are considering purchasing their own printer at work.
The workshop thus offered not only a theoretical overview, but above all a practical insight into how 3D printing can be used effectively in everyday business practice. And if anyone had any doubts about whether this is the technology of the future, the packed classroom and lively discussions across disciplines provided a clear answer.