Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Experimenting With 3D Printing to Create Devices

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,806
38,424


Apple is using 3D printers to make the chassis for some of the upcoming Apple Watch Series 9 models, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The new manufacturing process that Apple is testing would use less material than the large slabs of metal that are needed for traditional CNC manufacturing, plus it would cut down on the time that it takes to make new devices.

stainless-series-8-apple-watch.jpg

With a technique called "binder jetting," Apple is able to print a device's outline at close to its actual shape using a powdered substance. A second process uses heat and pressure to squeeze the material into a substance that feels like steel, and it is then refined with milling.

Gurman's information echoes what we've already heard from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Back in July, Kuo said that the upcoming second-generation Apple Watch Ultra will include 3D printed mechanical parts. Specifically, he claimed that Apple is "actively adopting 3D printing technology," and that some of the titanium components in the new Apple Watch Ultra would be 3D printed.

Gurman claims that Apple plans to use this new 3D printing method for the chassis of the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 9 models rather than components for the Ultra but either way, it sounds like Apple is more actively testing this manufacturing method as of 2023. Gurman says that Apple plans to 3D print titanium devices in 2024.

A shift to 3D printing for some device production would allow Apple to improve manufacturing times and potentially cut down on costs. Kuo said that if Apple's work on the 2023 Apple Watch models went well, Apple would use 3D printing for more devices in the future.

According to Gurman, Apple and Apple suppliers have been developing the 3D printing method for at least three years. Gurman confirms that Apple will expand the process to more products over the next several years if Apple Watch tests are successful.

Article Link: Apple Experimenting With 3D Printing to Create Devices
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/30/apple-3d-printing-device-components/
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Pinkyyy 💜🍎
Gurman is late on this train…

Until we get clear confirmation, I’m not sure I care. I think there is a whole lot more 3D printing in our future anyway…
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pinkyyy 💜🍎
Jay Tee said:
All I want to hear about the Apple Watch is one thing:

Blood Glucose, when and at what price.
Click to expand...
CGM would make AW a true medical device and I doubt you’ll see that in the “regular” AW, a special edition maybe but be prepared for a very hefty price tag…
 
ProfessionalFan said:
Will those reduced production costs be passed onto the customers?
Click to expand...
I mean the price of the Apple Watch stayed the same since S4, despite having newer and more expensive tech each year and factoring inflation. The price staying the same is a win for customers in itself. Would you really see the difference if it was 5-10$ less?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Sad
Reactions: Pinkyyy 💜🍎, JapanApple, FightTheFuture and 6 others
Binder jetting, got it. Rolls right off the tongue. 🤨

Edit: Okay after a single video clip of the process, this puts 3D printing to shame as we know it. Every man, woman, and child will know what binder jetting is... at some point. Maybe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pinkyyy 💜🍎
fwmireault said:
I mean the price of the Apple Watch stayed the same since S4, despite having newer and more expensive tech each year and factoring inflation. The price staying the same is a win for customers in itself. Would you really see the difference if it was 5-10$ less?
Click to expand...
You are absolutely correct, but MR folks like to complain about “greedy” Apple on every occasion…
 
  • Like
  • Sad
Reactions: Pinkyyy 💜🍎, SFjohn, Zdigital2015 and 3 others
A more interesting consequence of this method (for Apple Watch and beyond) would be changes to the supply chain: An easier manufacturing process (which is not necessarily simpler) can distribute parts manufacturing and assembly across geographic boundaries, and rid the world of China's variable mood and economy. Blurring the line between technology (traditionally, design) and manufacturing is a welcome change.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Pinkyyy 💜🍎
Modern CNC uses huge slabs of metal but what is not used is completely recycled so it’s not really fair to say they use different amount of resources. Just two different approaches and so far 3D printed metal does not have the same characteristics as unibody and is worse nearly every way. But hopefully someone is making a breakthrough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pinkyyy 💜🍎, fbadini and appleCakes
This is an increasingly common way of manufacturing small, high precision metal parts. Several years ago I designed specialized small 316 screws for an instrumentation product. It was much cheaper to sent the drawings to Germany where a company I had spoken to, made them in their million dollar 3D metal printer. So print and sinter. That’s the main way they’re made these days. But bother metal printing processes are coming out which could prove to be faster and cheaper. Apple is big enough to help that along with money, as they often do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chuckeee, Pinkyyy 💜🍎, Jay Tee and 4 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back