The Borrow a Printer initiative was designed to provide companies with firsthand experience of AM technology without the initial investment barrier. Inspired by the Center for Industrial Production (CFI) model, this program offered companies the opportunity to borrow 3D printers for a limited period. During this trial phase, businesses explored how AM fit within their existing workflows, experimented with different types of prints, and evaluated potential cost savings and productivity gains. By allowing companies to ‘test-drive’ the technology, we aimed to lower the threshold for AM adoption and help them make informed decisions about future investments in AM equipment.
We acquired a Bambulabs X1C printer to conduct a trial and to ensure that companies could use the printer without requiring additional support. We utilized the training material developed in Pilot 1 for this purpose. During Pilot 2, we launched this initiative and attracted interest from two companies. By the end of the project, one company had already made use of the Borrow a Printer initiative. After the second company successfully used the printer, Thomas More planned to acquire an additional printer to meet the growing demand.
