Although it’s a relatively new technology, 3D printing seems to have taken off in recent years. But is it a sector where it’s possible to carve out – or perhaps even print – yourself a career?
What is it?
You are probably familiar with the small hobbyist-type 3D printers that use plastics to produce models, ornaments and other objects. But commercially, this is a world that extends much further. There are 3D printers that use various different polymers, but also models that are capable of printing objects in metal.
Often the technology is used for prototyping, creating the first examples of products or components before tooling up for large scale production. But 3D printers can also be used to create small runs of items for sale. The medical sector is starting to make use of 3D prints too, these can be used in creating prosthetics, implants and more besides.
3D printing roles
So, what sort of jobs does this new industry involve? One of the most obvious roles is for engineers to be involved in the building and maintenance of the printers themselves. Software developers are needed as well to create applications to translate designs into physical objects. This is likely to need knowledge of related systems like computer aided design (CAD) or CNC machining. These technical staff may also be involved in the sales and support process, talking to customers about the abilities of the technology and helping to address queries and resolve problems.
Other jobs that may have some involvement with 3D print technology include web developers since printing services and libraries of designs are increasingly available in the cloud. There are also roles for software testers, interface designers and administrators.
More specialised tasks include those involved with materials science. These work on the creation of printing materials for different tasks in order to improve the printing process and ensure the quality of the finished product. Knowledge of materials like metal powders, thermoplastic polymers and photoactive resins is essential for these roles.
There are research and development roles too, which have been changed by the introduction of 3D print technology. These people are likely to be involved in the design of new products to be printed, and in the evaluation and testing of new equipment and techniques. Design engineers are involved in creating the model to be printed, which can mean making 3D designs from scratch, but also translating concepts from elsewhere to use 3D technology.
How to apply
3D printing is still a fairly new industry, so although the skills needed are in demand, relatively few people actually have them. When applying for a role therefore, it’s important that you make any relevant experience stand out on your CV.
Even if your direct experience in this field is limited, you may still have skills that translate well to working in 3D print. If you have qualifications or skills in materials science or coding, for example, these can stand you in good stead, but make sure you can demonstrate an understanding of how they relate to 3D print work.
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