The Future of 3D Printing in Patient-Specific Prosthetics and Implants

According to Karsten Schlichter, global business development manager at Elkem Silicones, 3D printing offers greater flexibility and variability compared to traditional casting. Unlike casting, which involves creating molds for each item, 3D printing allows for more versatile manufacturing.

Adjusting a mold manually lacks the precision of digital modeling. Each modification requires testing; success saves time, but failure restarts the iterative process, costing both time and money.

With 3D printing, Schlichter highlights significant time savings, reportedly over 70%. This technology enables swift progression from concept to prototype to final product by allowing rapid iterations directly on the digital model, expediting the entire development process.