Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses
Although the trend in manufacturing has been towards centralization to leverage economies of scale, the recent rapid technical development of open-source 3-D printers enables low-cost distributed bespoke production. This paper explores the potential advantages of a distributed manufacturing model of...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Librelloph
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Challenges in Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.librelloph.com/challengesinsustainability/article/view/195 |
| _version_ | 1811326649727188992 |
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| author | Jephias Gwamuri Ben T. Wittbrodt Nick C. Anzalone Joshua M. Pearce |
| author_facet | Jephias Gwamuri Ben T. Wittbrodt Nick C. Anzalone Joshua M. Pearce |
| author_sort | Jephias Gwamuri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although the trend in manufacturing has been towards centralization to leverage economies of scale, the recent rapid technical development of open-source 3-D printers enables low-cost distributed bespoke production. This paper explores the potential advantages of a distributed manufacturing model of high-value products by investigating the application of 3-D printing to self-refraction eyeglasses. A series of parametric 3-D printable designs is developed, fabricated and tested to overcome limitations identified with mass-manufactured self-correcting eyeglasses designed for the developing world's poor. By utilizing 3-D printable self-adjustable glasses, communities not only gain access to far more diversity in product design, as the glasses can be customized for the individual, but 3-D printing also offers the potential for significant cost reductions. The results show that distributed manufacturing with open-source 3-D printing can empower developing world communities through the ability to print less expensive and customized self-adjusting eyeglasses. This offers the potential to displace both centrally manufactured conventional and self-adjusting glasses while completely eliminating the costs of the conventional optics correction experience, including those of highly-trained optometrists and ophthalmologists and their associated equipment. Although, this study only analyzed a single product, it is clear that other products would benefit from the same approach in isolated regions of the developing world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:53:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83fec0f7774b4297a397458e0981bf19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-6477 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:53:32Z |
| publishDate | 2014-04-01 |
| publisher | Librelloph |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Challenges in Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-83fec0f7774b4297a397458e0981bf192022-12-22T02:42:31ZengLibrellophChallenges in Sustainability2297-64772014-04-0121304010.12924/cis2014.0201003068Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable GlassesJephias Gwamuri0Ben T. Wittbrodt1Nick C. Anzalone2Joshua M. Pearce3The Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology (MOST) Laboratory 601 M&M Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295, United States\\ Department of Materials Science & Engineering Michigan Technological University 601 M&M Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295, United StatesThe Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology (MOST) Laboratory 601 M&M Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295, United States\\ Department of Materials Science & Engineering Michigan Technological University 601 M&M Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295, United StatesThe Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology (MOST) Laboratory 601 M&M Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295, United StatesThe Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology (MOST) Laboratory 601 M&M Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295, United States\\ Department of Materials Science & Engineering Michigan Technological University 601 M&M Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295, United States\\ Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Michigan Technological University 601 M&M Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295, United StatesAlthough the trend in manufacturing has been towards centralization to leverage economies of scale, the recent rapid technical development of open-source 3-D printers enables low-cost distributed bespoke production. This paper explores the potential advantages of a distributed manufacturing model of high-value products by investigating the application of 3-D printing to self-refraction eyeglasses. A series of parametric 3-D printable designs is developed, fabricated and tested to overcome limitations identified with mass-manufactured self-correcting eyeglasses designed for the developing world's poor. By utilizing 3-D printable self-adjustable glasses, communities not only gain access to far more diversity in product design, as the glasses can be customized for the individual, but 3-D printing also offers the potential for significant cost reductions. The results show that distributed manufacturing with open-source 3-D printing can empower developing world communities through the ability to print less expensive and customized self-adjusting eyeglasses. This offers the potential to displace both centrally manufactured conventional and self-adjusting glasses while completely eliminating the costs of the conventional optics correction experience, including those of highly-trained optometrists and ophthalmologists and their associated equipment. Although, this study only analyzed a single product, it is clear that other products would benefit from the same approach in isolated regions of the developing world.http://www.librelloph.com/challengesinsustainability/article/view/195additive layer manufacturingdevelopmentdistributed manufacturingeye careglasses3-D printing |
| spellingShingle | Jephias Gwamuri Ben T. Wittbrodt Nick C. Anzalone Joshua M. Pearce Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses Challenges in Sustainability additive layer manufacturing development distributed manufacturing eye care glasses 3-D printing |
| title | Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses |
| title_full | Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses |
| title_fullStr | Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses |
| title_short | Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses |
| title_sort | reversing the trend of large scale and centralization in manufacturing the case of distributed manufacturing of customizable 3 d printable self adjustable glasses |
| topic | additive layer manufacturing development distributed manufacturing eye care glasses 3-D printing |
| url | http://www.librelloph.com/challengesinsustainability/article/view/195 |
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