The Impact of Automation on Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing offers geometric flexibility and relatively fast go-to-market times without coming at a large expense for low to medium-volume applications. Some very established printing technologies already widely utilized 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”, looks at these methods in detail and explores trends impacting new additive manufacturing approaches.
New, complex, and optimized structures could possibly be manufactured as the industry finds new ways to use materials and hardware to address customers' needs. Materials innovation is opening opportunities for newer applications, so the additive manufacturing market is by no means done 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 as a support for the print, developed by Rapid Liquid Print, while another company, 3Deus Dynamics, has created a new method for the extrusion of soft materials into a powder bed. This can act as both a means of support and a strengthening mechanism for the print. Companies like Vitro3D focus on volumetric additive manufacturing, providing speed and other advantages when compared to layer-by-layer approaches.
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 lots of opportunities for these companies.
The benefits of AI and automation
The role of automation is becoming more prevalent all the time, with the usage of AI and robotics potentially making the utilization and adoption of additive manufacturing 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 errors. Additionally, AI can assist with the creation and development of more complex structures, and with the accompaniment of robots, the amount of labor 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 lots of welded parts. Sand binder jetting can be used to create molds, which can then be used in the Giga Casting process, streamlining the manufacturing process to make producing large numbers of electric vehicles more straightforward. IDTechEx names this a major application for 3D printing within the EV market, with other automotive manufacturers are now considering this approach.
Uses of additive manufacturing within the consumer electronics sector include 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 from large global companies.
Additive manufacturing is clearly 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 to surpass US$44 billion in revenue by 2034, reflecting the expectations of growth and success in the near future. The report goes into further detail about how current and emerging methodologies could lead to more sustainable successes within the 3D printing industry.
To find out more about this report, including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/3D.
For the full portfolio of 3D printing market research available from IDTechEx, please see www.IDTechEx.com/Research/3D.