Apple is expanding its use of 3D printing, potentially impacting production costs and product availability, according to recent reports. Even as the company has previously utilized the technology, this marks a significant increase in scale.
The Cupertino-based tech giant isn’t modern to 3D printing, but a report from Bloomberg indicates Apple plans to more heavily integrate the technology into its manufacturing processes. This isn’t the typical 3D printing seen in hobbyist projects – suppose keychains or doorstops – but rather the industrial-scale printing of titanium and aluminum.
Apple has previously used 3D printing for smaller components, such as the titanium cases of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11. The technique was also tested for the iPhone Air’s USB-C port, which was fully 3D-printed in titanium to create a smaller and more robust design. Now, Apple aims to leverage the technology for more cost-effective and streamlined production by 3D-printing the housings of both watches and iPhones entirely from aluminum.
This shift could potentially lower the manufacturing costs of these products. While it’s unlikely consumers will see a 50% price reduction on devices, the savings could manifest in other ways. For example, it could help keep the price of devices like the MacBook Neo – which aims to replace laptops at a price point of approximately $280 – accessible. Alternatively, it could offset price increases driven by factors like rising RAM costs.
BorÃtókép: depositphotos.com / HayDimitry
