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Apple is testing 3D printing to manufacture upcoming smartwatches, which could mark a shift in the company’s production process.
Citing sources familiar with the development, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is manufacturing the steel chassis for some of its upcoming watches, which includes the Watch Series 9, using 3D printing as a part of a trial run.
About 10 per cent of Apple’s watches are made of stainless steel, and the company has traditionally used a conventional manufacturing process for these watches. The process involves using forging to shape material bricks into smaller blocks of metal that are close to the size of the watch, followed by the use of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine to cut the metal and create the device’s specific design and button holes.
This new technique, which has been under development for about three years now, uses a specific type of 3D printing known as binder jetting to create a device’s general outline close to its actual size. This is used to create a product’s near net shape. Then, Sintering compresses the powder into a steel-like form, followed by milling for exact design and cutouts.
Sources say that the new 3D printing technique eliminates the need to cut large slabs of metal, which is required to manufacture products as of now. Thus the new technique would reduce the material use and even cut production time, leading to a more efficient manufacturing process, thus improving the supply chain.
Apple could also 3D print iPhones in the future
Apple is testing a new steel case manufacturing technique for the upcoming Apple Watch Series 9, which is expected to be unveiled on September 12. However, not all the Series 9 watches coming to the market would be made using this process.
The company plans to adopt the technique for its titanium-made Watch Ultra next year. If the new technique is successful with Apple Watches, the company will likely expand it to other products over the next few years.
Apple is exploring 3D printing for metal parts in their devices, such as stainless steel casings for higher-volume products, such as iPhones. Apple has a history of testing new technology on the Apple Watch, such as steel frames and titanium, and manufacturing the Apple Watch first using the new technique is part of the same.
Citing sources familiar with the development, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is manufacturing the steel chassis for some of its upcoming watches, which includes the Watch Series 9, using 3D printing as a part of a trial run.
About 10 per cent of Apple’s watches are made of stainless steel, and the company has traditionally used a conventional manufacturing process for these watches. The process involves using forging to shape material bricks into smaller blocks of metal that are close to the size of the watch, followed by the use of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine to cut the metal and create the device’s specific design and button holes.
This new technique, which has been under development for about three years now, uses a specific type of 3D printing known as binder jetting to create a device’s general outline close to its actual size. This is used to create a product’s near net shape. Then, Sintering compresses the powder into a steel-like form, followed by milling for exact design and cutouts.
Sources say that the new 3D printing technique eliminates the need to cut large slabs of metal, which is required to manufacture products as of now. Thus the new technique would reduce the material use and even cut production time, leading to a more efficient manufacturing process, thus improving the supply chain.
Apple could also 3D print iPhones in the future
Apple is testing a new steel case manufacturing technique for the upcoming Apple Watch Series 9, which is expected to be unveiled on September 12. However, not all the Series 9 watches coming to the market would be made using this process.
The company plans to adopt the technique for its titanium-made Watch Ultra next year. If the new technique is successful with Apple Watches, the company will likely expand it to other products over the next few years.
Apple is exploring 3D printing for metal parts in their devices, such as stainless steel casings for higher-volume products, such as iPhones. Apple has a history of testing new technology on the Apple Watch, such as steel frames and titanium, and manufacturing the Apple Watch first using the new technique is part of the same.
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