Technology continues to advance and make our lives easier. This progress brings things that might have once been prohibitively expensive or nearly impossible right into the comfort of our homes. For example, consider how much it would have cost you 20 years ago to manufacture a product you designed yourself, using cheap material like plastic. Today, thanks to 3D printers, you can do this at affordable prices.

People from all around the world are using this technology for various purposes, from creating figurines to making objects they need. I’m even thinking of redesigning the legs of my chairs so that my robotic vacuum cleaner can easily go under them and clean. It seems that it’s not just ordinary users who are looking to benefit from this technology. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is testing 3D printing for the steel cases of their Watch Series 9 models. Here are the details…

Apple Testing 3D Printing for Steel Apple Watch Series 9 Models

Of course, when you hear “Apple and 3D printer” don’t think of the home-use products sold online. The company has been conducting R&D for a long time to accelerate production and reduce costs. Industrial 3D Steel printers could be the solution that the US tech giant needs. In fact, Mark Gurman has mentioned that this technology could be used in the production of the Apple Watch Series 9, which is set to be introduced at the iPhone 15 event on September 12.

Apple 3D Printing

Traditionally, Apple produces its steel Watch models using a process called forging. This involves creating small steel blocks slightly larger than the finished product. The metal is then cut to the required shape using CNC, leaving off cuts. 3D printing, on the other hand, uses a “powdered substance” which is shaped using heat and pressure into something closer to the final product. The resulting case “feels like steel” with some additional milling required to finalize the case.

Latest reports says that Apple is still in the early stages of testing 3D printing for its Apple Watch models. It is not yet clear if the new method will be used in the final products. However, the report says that Apple is interested in the potential benefits of 3D printing, such as reduced waste and faster manufacturing times.

It is worth noting that Apple is not the only company exploring the use of 3D printing for smartwatches. Companies, such as Samsung and Fossil, are also developing 3D printing techniques for their smartwatches. It is unclear for now who will be the leader in this technology.

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