Additive manufacturing offers geometric flexibility and relatively fast go-to-market times without a significant expense for low to medium-volume applications. Some widely utilised printing technologies include selective laser sintering, thermoplastic filament extrusion, and direct metal laser sintering.
IDTechEx’s report, “3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 2024-2034: Technology and Market Outlook,” examines these methods in detail and explores trends impacting new additive manufacturing approaches.
As the industry finds new ways to use materials and hardware to address customers’ needs, new, complex, and optimised structures could be manufactured. Materials innovation is opening opportunities for newer applications, so the additive manufacturing market is not growing yet.
Why Is Additive Manufacturing Consistently Gaining Traction?
Improving on established technologies and innovating new printing hardware allows startups to take a shot at entering the market. New methods include the extrusion of thermosets using gel beds to support the print, developed by Rapid Liquid Print.
At the same time, another company, 3Deus Dynamics, has created a new method for extruding soft materials into a powder bed. This can act as a support and a strengthening mechanism for the print. Compared to layer-by-layer approaches, companies like Vitro3D focus on volumetric additive manufacturing, providing speed and other advantages.
Binder jetting as a technology is also gaining traction, which is very beneficial for metal powder providers. Due to the high throughput of binder jetting, higher material utilization can be realized, leading to higher sales and many opportunities for these companies.
The Benefits of AI and Automation
The role of automation is becoming more prevalent, with AI and robotics potentially making the utilization and adoption of this technique more successful. IDTechEx reports that AI could detect early errors in the printing process and defects after printing and be able to correct them, changing the 3D model if necessary to prevent reoccurring mistakes.
Additionally, AI can assist with creating and developing more complex structures. With the accompaniment of robots, the amount of labour required for additive manufacturing processes can be reduced.
This use of AI and robotics could lower the barriers to entry across the different stages of the market, as there is less need for specialized knowledge and large numbers of employees to work around the clock on these 3D printers.
Markets for Additive Manufacturing
Automotive OEMs have begun to realize the potential of additive manufacturing with Tesla’s introduction of Giga Casting, a technology invented to create different parts of cars that are ordinarily made of many welded parts.
Sand binder jetting can create moulds, which can be used in the Giga Casting process. This streamlines the manufacturing process, making producing large numbers of electric vehicles more straightforward. IDTechEx names this a significant application for 3D printing within the EV market, and other automotive manufacturers are considering this approach.
The use of additive manufacturing within the consumer electronics sector includes Apple’s use of binder jetting to produce the steel chassis for Apple Watches and their consideration of the process for other parts, demonstrating the trust in this technology by large global companies.
Additive manufacturing is a diverse field, with room for players to optimize and innovate. IDTechEx’s report on the topic, “3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 2024-2034: Technology and Market Outlook”, explores different applications further and predicts the industry will surpass US$44 billion in revenue by 2034, reflecting the expectations of growth and success. The report details how current and emerging methodologies could lead to more sustainable successes within the 3D printing industry.
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