Apple is using 3D printing to manufacture some components of its upcoming smartwatch
As per some recent pieces of information provided by Mark Gurman, the Cupertino-based tech firm is experimenting with 3D printers. Reportedly, the company is utilizing 3D printers to manufacture carcasses for a few units of the company’s upcoming Apple Watch Series 9. The reasons behind the adoption of this technique include a time-efficient process and a lower requirement of material, i.e., it doesn’t require large metal slabs for manufacturing CNC.
As per the information, the company is making use of a binder jetting technique that prints the outline of a device in close resemblance with the original shape. It uses a powdered substance to print a device’s outline. The material is squeezed into a steel-like substance using heat and pressure in a subsequent step, which is eventually refined by the process of milling.
The information provided by Gurman aligns with the reports shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In July 2023, Kuo claimed that Apple would include the 3D-printed mechanical parts in the second-gen Apple Watch Ultra. According to him, the company could replace the titanium parts of the Apple Watch Ultra with 3D-printed ones.
However, it appears that Apple is more actively exploring this production technique as of 2023. Gurman reports that Apple plans to employ this new 3D printing technique for the frame of the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 9 models instead of creating components for the Ultra. Apple will begin 3D printing titanium gadgets in 2024, according to Gurman.
Adopting 3D printing technology can help the company save time and money. Kuo claims that if Apple gets successful with its current approach, it might adopt 3D printing for more devices in the future. Gurman asserts that Apple and its suppliers have been working on the 3D printing method for three years.
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