Additive Manufacturing (AM) and its subsets which are commonly termed as “3D printing” and “rapid prototyping” is yet another novel technological advancement that has been made possible by the transition from analog to digital processes.

Additive Manufacturing refers to a process of manufacturing three-dimensional objects by adding one superfine layer at a time where each successive layer bonds to the preceding layer of a melted or partially melted layer using an electronic beam or a laser in a bed of powdered material.

The objects to be manufactured are defined by CAD software that is used to create .stl files which slice the object into ultra-thin layers. 

Some of the most prevalent processes used for Additive Manufacturing are:

• Powder Bed Fusion

• Binder Jetting

• Direct Energy Deposition

• Material Extrusion  

• Material Jetting

• Sheet Lamination

• VAT Polymerization

Today Additive Manufacturing rules the aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial manufacturing sectors and so reports predict that 3D printing is continuing on its path of growth whereby many engineering businesses will source or produce more 3D printed parts this year compared to last year.

Why 3D Printing the Future of Manufacturing?

1. Provides easy scalability in rapid prototyping to full-scale manufacturing

On-demand production helps manufacturers to produce 3D printed parts as needed by the customers instead of pulling the parts from a supply warehouse, which results in a measurable decrease in inventory and storage costs.

2. Make the supply chain more robust through digitization

Faced with disruption as big as this COVID-19 pandemic, if this global event has taught anything it has businesses to build supply chain resilience which is now the key objective across industries.

Additive manufacturing has changed the traditional manufacturing process, by condensing piles of boxes that can eat up physical space into files that can be stored in the Cloud and can be easily accessed when needed and enabled companies to decentralize production so that they can manufacture the products closer to the customer. Hence reducing the need for building large mega-factories, since 3D printers can be deployed in non-traditional locations, like service and support centers, or even in people’s homes.

3. Offer more customized designs

With low volume production capabilities offered by additive manufacturing, it can enable easy customization and personalization, providing brands more flexibility in creating responsive designs and allowing engineers and designers to adjust product designs in a cost-effective manner.

According to a report on Printing Trends, it states that the global 3D printing market grew by many folds compared to what it has been in the past, despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A look at how the world is shifting

Contract manufacturing company Incodema 3D is producing intricate parts in a difficult-to-machine metal-made 3D printing for the defense industry by selecting additive manufacturing as the right choice for this job.

Similarly, Spirit AeroSystems is manufacturing structural components of the Boeing 787, and Resolution Medical is a name among many manufacturing complex catheter systems and other medical devices using additive manufacturing technology where 3D printing is providing these companies the advantage of undergoing flexible design changes, faster time-to-market, and to re-run past jobs at a moments notice without any tooling requirements.

Of course, this is even true that additive manufacturing will not replace casting, machining, or injection molding technologies. However, shortly 3D printing will become a viable production method that can be used on par with other technologies to ensure greater repeatability and speed and make us ever-closer to reaching this goal.