3D printing technology is evolving at an alarming rate, and in 2023, these are the trends that are taking over the market.
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This technology is evolving so rapidly that it's hard to keep track of all the changes, but I'm here to break it down for you and show you what to expect in the coming years. So fasten your seat belts and get ready for a wild ride!
0:00 - intro
1:08 - 1. Use cases are skyrocketing
•In 2017, the most popular use for 3D printing was rapid prototyping, with nearly seven out of 10 respondents using it for that purpose.
• In 2019, research and development surpassed prototyping as the most popular 3D printing application.
• Now, in 2023 close to 100% of participants say they use 3D printing to produce functional or end-use parts.
1:42 - 2. Growth projections are getting bigger and bigger
97% of manufacturers polled expect their use of 3D printing to grow within the next five years.
Most participants said they expect their company's use of 3D printing to at least double in the timeframe.
Nearly half expect their use to double, while almost four out of 10 expect the increase to be dramatic (five times or more).
A little over 80% of respondents expect their additive manufacturing use for production parts too at least double within the next five years.
2:46 - 3. Companies are just starting to enjoy the benefits of 3D Printing
According to a recent survey, the top three benefits companies report enjoying thanks to additive manufacturing are the ability to deliver parts faster, increased creativity, and cost savings.
This recent rise in optimism toward 3D printing may be due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which companies with 3D printing capabilities have been able to produce much-needed medical personal protective equipment (PPE), such as respirators and face shields.
Another interesting point is that Executives are more optimistic about the benefits of 3D printing than team managers. This is probably because the executives see the long-term bottom line, and managers probably dread the team training and new processes to implement… cest la vie
3:41 - 4. More materials are available now than ever before
Companies have seen a dramatic increase in the 3D printing material types used since 2019 – just 5 years ago, it seemed like there were only a handful of materials, like PLA, ABS, and ULTEM… but now, you’ve got PETG, PCTG, PET, PP, PEKK, PEEK, PA6, PA12, PA11, and then everyone and their mom’s blend of nylon with carbon fiber…. Check out a ton of options on our web store, at visionminer.com/materials
Although plastics/polymers still reign supreme, other materials have taken great strides in catching up.
4:39 - 5. We’ve still got some stuff to figure out in 3D printing
Despite the optimism for growth in additive manufacturing, organizations have yet to solve all the challenges with 3D printing.
Whereas almost half of 2019 respondents listed "cost of materials" as an issue, only about two-fifths did this year.
The top challenge in 2021 was the cost of pre- and post-processing.
It does appear that companies are branching out in their pre- and post-processing methods. In 2019, a little over half of respondents said that they were using machining; now, almost three-quarters of respondents are dethroning polishing as the most popular option.
5:49 - 6. In-house printing is more popular than outsourced printing
Companies are moving towards in-house additive manufacturing, with three-quarters of survey participants doing their additive manufacturing in-house.
This is likely because companies want to educate their employees about additive manufacturing or hire personnel with previous 3D printing knowledge and experience.
However, businesses are not opposed to outsourcing their additive manufacturing; almost 100% indicated that they would consider this an option.
When examining potential manufacturing partners, companies take a wide range of criterion into account, such as design capabilities, ability to scale, pricing and experience.
7:08 - Call Us if You Have Any Questions
Editor: Drew Alcorn At Vision Miner, we specialize in Functional 3D printing, especially high-performance plastics like PEEK, ULTEM, PPSU, PPS, CFPA, and more. We also have extensive experience with 3D scanners, and a whole array of solutions available for purchase. If you're interested in using functional 3D printing and materials in your business, feel free to reach out, and we can help you make the right choice for your application.
Call 833-774-6863 or email contact@visionminer.com, and we're here to help!
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