IDTechEx Talks Additive Manufacturing: More than the Printer

BOSTON, Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – The core element of additive production has always been the 3D Printer. However, the industry was built on a foundation made up of many different printer technologies. Each printer technology has its strengths, weaknesses, capabilities and limitations and the most compatible applications. IDTechEx’s most recent “3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 20023-2033 Technology and Market Outlook” report examined over 30 different 3D printer technologies to determine their performance in comparison to other printing technologies. Importantly, each technology type’s unique characteristics help to expand the 3D printing market by making additive manufacturing more accessible.

However, 3D printers are often the focus of attention. It is easy to forget about other important sectors that make 3D print possible, especially industrial additive printing. 3D printing is only possible when there is a complete ecosystem. This ecosystem includes materials, software, post processing, quality assurance, training, and other services. The end-users are seeing 3D printing’s increased acceptance because of the maturation of all aspects.

IDTechEx will discuss important aspects of the AM ecosystem in this article.  

Materials

3D-printed parts are not able to compete with traditionally manufactured parts. 3D-printed parts have struggled to compete with conventionally manufactured parts (i.e., machined parts, injection molded parts, etc.). They are also less durable in terms of mechanical and material performance. 3D printing companies (including material suppliers like Arkema or BASF) are making significant effort to address these shortcomings from the materials point of view. Reinforcements like carbon and glass fibres are a popular way to improve performance. A more advanced category is nanocarbon fillers such as graphene or carbon nanotubes which are being incorporated into commercial 3D printer materials. Another approach is to make difficult-to-process materials like high-temperature plastics and foams printable. It is important to understand that different printing technologies require different materials in order to maximize overall performance. IDTechEx’s report, “3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 2023-233: Technology and Market Outlook”, provides further information about the 3D printing market.

Post-Processing

Post-processing refers the final step after 3D printing is complete to manufacture a single part. It is often the second or last step in the additive manufacturing process. Quality assurance may be the final step. AM post-processing includes a variety of techniques. Some are specific to AM, i.e. Support removal, depowdering) and others are used for other manufacturing processes (e.g. Surface finishing, metal analing treatments. Some post-processing procedures are required after printing. Others are optional, but are often done to improve certain parts of the printed part (i.e. mechanical performance, appearance, etc.).

3D printing is becoming more popular for high-volume parts. This means that post-processing is essential in order to make printed parts suitable and usable for end-use applications. A number of AM post-processing companies like DyeMansion and AMT have created equipment that can handle higher volumes of parts. These machines are built to handle large numbers of parts and to be as efficient as possible to reduce the production time for 3D-printed parts. These companies have grown rapidly over the past five years and have formed partnerships with established printer makers, making post-processing a fascinating AM-related sector to watch over the next decade.

Software

3D printing is a digital manufacturing technique that incorporates software at each step of the production process. The main goal of 3D printing software development is making AM adoption easier for end users. This is in an effort to expand AM’s reach. Software tools are being developed by companies like Xerox to help end-users decide which parts are best for 3D printing. This software helps to simplify the process of adoption by removing the need to have engineering consultants to determine the best locations for AM within an organization. Software start-ups ParaMatters and nTopology are creating tools that make it easier to create complicated geometries for 3D printers. Ansys produces simulation software to help test the performance of 3D printed parts even before they are manufactured.

After printing, inspection and quality assurance software compare 3D scans from the manufactured part to the original 3D modeling to identify deviations. This is crucial for parts used in highly regulated industries such as aerospace and healthcare. Software that allows you to track the status of any print project from order to shipment, such as AMFG, 3YOURMIND, and AMFlow, is crucial. This is especially important for large volumes of prints, as many 3D printing companies aspire.

To put it another manner, AM adoption is dependent on easy-to-learn and streamlined software. Investors especially are aware of the need for this software. USD$125M In 2021, more than $1.5 billion was invested in software 3D printing-related businesses. Two of the top ten largest rounds of fundraising in the AM sector in 2021 were for software companies – nTopology$65M Oqton (Series D), and Series D)$40M In Series A, prior to 3D Systems’ acquisition. IDTechEx expects this investment trend continues into 2022. 21% of private funding in H1 2022 was directed to AM companies. This is up from 202.

Services

The inherent difficulties of selling printers to end users have been exposed over the years by industry that has followed the same business strategy for decades. Customers need to be able to budget for high-end printers and consumables, which can cost hundreds of thousands and hundreds of dollars per kg, respectively. Service providers can help customers who find it difficult or uneconomical to purchase a 3D printer. They can also provide access to 3D printing without the need for them to have the technical knowledge or expensive equipment required to operate them.

It is important to note that there are increasing numbers of service providers who use their own proprietary printing technology. They have chosen to sell the printers they make using their proprietary technology, rather than selling them like traditional 3D printer producers. Instead of selling them, they will keep their proprietary printing technology in house to produce parts for their customers. In-house production companies using their proprietary technology such as 3DEO and Holo are like vertically integrated OEMs. These companies can bypass many of those traditional barriers to adoption associated with commercializing new printing technologies. Service providers such as those mentioned are helping to expand the 3D printing industry. This helps to lower the barriers to entry for AM-users.

Market Forecasts for Additive Manufacturing

IDTechEx’s “3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 2030-2033: Technology and Market Outlook” report segments the market using eighty different forecast lines. It covers seventeen technology categories, four major materials categories, and eight subcategories. These forecasts include future installations, revenue, material revenue, hardware unit sales, future hardware unit sales, and hardware mass demand. IDTechEx also provides detailed technology benchmarking studies, examinations and case studies of key application areas, detailed discussion on auxiliary AM industries fields, and in-depth economic and market analysis. IDTechEx also examines the positive and adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 3D printing industry and the subsequent supply chain disruptions. The IDTechEx report provides additional information on the market, including 125 interviews with market leaders and start-ups as well as technology comparison studies, analysis of business models, and 10-year market forecasts..

For more information on this report, including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/3DP. For the full portfolio of 3D Printing research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/3D.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx assists you in making strategic business decisions using its Research, Subscription and Consultancy services. This will help you take advantage of emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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