Bloomberg News reports that the new approach can streamline Apple’s supply chain. This would kick off a broad shift broadly. Apple Inc. is now testing 3D printers’ use to produce the steel chassis. A few of the upcoming smartwatches have used the steel chassis, as people familiar with the matter reveal. This is heralding a major change to how the company manufactures its products.
The technique would help obviate the need for cutting large slabs of metal into the product’s shape. This would help in reducing the time required for building devices. Simultaneously, it would also help the environment by using less material, as per people familiar with the plan since it is private.
More about the new approach
How will the new approach help? It has the potential to streamline the supply chain of Apple and kick off a broader shift. If the work goes as per the plans of Apple Watches, the tech giant will expand the process, wherein more products will be included over the years to come. A spokesperson for the company based in Cupertino, California, declined to comment when requested.
Apple’s conventional approach
To date, Apple has used conventional manufacturing processes for stainless steel watches. These watches constitute approximately 10% of the total units of the product line. Forging is the process used to form bricks of materials into smaller metal blocks very close to the device’s size. A computer numerical control, also known as a CNC machine, is used for cutting into metal and creating the exact design and the button holes.
What is Binder Jetting?
Bloomberg News reports that the new technique will use a type of 3D printing called binder jetting. This is used for creating the device’s general outline close to the actual size. This is also known as “near net shape” in manufacturing terminology.
The print uses a powdered substance, which later goes through sintering. The process uses heat and pressure to squeeze the material into what feels like traditional steel. After that, the cutouts and the designs are milled similarly to the previous process.
Following the news, it gave a boost to 3D printing firms like 3D Systems Corp as well as Stratasys Ltd. Shares of 3D Systems surged by as much as 10%. Meanwhile, shares of Stratasys soared 6.9%. Stocks later pared the gains. As of 2:48 p.m. in New York, shares of Apple surged by 1.8% to $187.46.
Who is doing the 3D work?
Apple’s manufacturing design team is working on the 3D printing work. The team is led by Rob York, the company’s vice president, and reports to Sabih Khan, the head of operations.
