(Source: blackday / stock.adobe.com)
In 1987, the world’s first commercially available 3D printer was introduced. Almost immediately, technologists were abuzz with the possibilities. Additive manufacturing could, they suggested, revolutionize everything from manufacturing to construction to scientific research.
They weren’t wrong. It just took a few years—or, more accurately, a few decades—for the technology to really come into its own.
It wasn’t until the 2020s that additive manufacturing started to become relevant for broad commercial use, with technological advancements unlocking a range of benefits, including:[1]
Despite these benefits, 3D printing accounts for just 0.1 percent of the total manufacturing market.[3] In this blog, we will examine the evolution, challenges, and future trends of additive manufacturing technologies across industries.
While additive manufacturing presents great potential for various industries, it also poses a number of integration challenges. 3D printing technology tends to be quite cost-prohibitive, especially in the case of commercial systems. Moreover, because 3D printing was originally developed for prototyping, the majority of widely available technology is ill-suited for high-volume applications. This lack of support for mass production also extends to software, making 3D printing challenging to integrate into digitally enabled factories.
Due to the nature of 3D printing, quality control is also a challenge, with even the slightest variation potentially ruining an entire print. Many 3D printing devices require a working knowledge of 3D modeling technology as well, and many pre-made CAD models are either defective or of unacceptable quality.
Further compounding matters, additive manufacturing was, until very recently, highly restrictive in terms of usable materials, with prints largely limited to plastic and PLAs.[4] Although the industry has made great strides in recent years, powder and materials management remain an ongoing concern.[5]
In industries such as construction, the adoption of 3D printing faces challenges due to lengthy testing processes required for building materials to meet code requirements. Material approval can be costly and time-consuming, which has slowed industry adoption despite the available capabilities and design expertise.
While additive manufacturing has remained largely confined to prototyping and tooling for much of its lifespan, 2024 may prove to be the year that changes. Owing to recent advancements in additive manufacturing technology, additive manufacturing is now:[6]
Alongside these advancements, additive manufacturing is being disrupted and reshaped by several trends (Table 1).
Table 1: Emerging trends shaping the future of additive manufacturing. (Source: 3D Universe)[7]
Emerging Trends in Additive Manufacturing
Advanced Materials
High-performance alloys and metals, food-grade materials, and bioprinting that uses living cells are unlocking new applications across multiple industries.
Artificial Intelligence
Applying generative AI to 3D printing helps to ensure print quality by adjusting parameters in real-time while also reducing the learning curve typically associated with 3D printing software.
Serialized Production
The development of larger, more powerful 3D printers designed for high-volume applications has allowed businesses to begin serializing and automating the technology at scale.
5G Integration
Combining 3D printers with 5G technology allows businesses to more readily support on-site manufacturing and also enable greater control and monitoring of print operations.
These emerging trends, along with technological innovations and advances in additive manufacturing equipment, have enabled several astounding new applications for the technology, spanning multiple industries and verticals.[8]
In early 2024, surgeons in Korea performed the first 3D-printed organ transplant, giving their patient a new windpipe created entirely from stem cells.[9] Organs are only the beginning, though. Eventually, bioprinting could be used to manufacture everything such as teeth, muscle cells, bones, and potentially entire limbs.[10]
Surgical and rehabilitative applications aside, additive manufacturing also enables point-of-care production of other medical devices such as surgical instruments, dental equipment, and molds. This type of production could also be used to provide emergency supplies to areas impacted by ongoing catastrophes. Additionally, pharmacies could print their own drugs directly in-store rather than relying on shipments from providers.[11]
3D printing has the potential to aid in the reconstruction of everything from skeletons to cities, particularly combined with generative AI. Forensic artists and scientists can use the technology to not only bridge evidential gaps but also provide accurate physical reconstructions of crime scenes. Archaeologists and anthropologists, meanwhile, could potentially leverage additive manufacturing to help them learn more about ancient animals, peoples, cities, and civilizations.
As printers become increasingly sophisticated, we could see a future where consumer goods are custom-printed at the moment of sale, resulting in personalization on a scale that was previously impossible.
Imagine if spacefaring vessels were equipped with a 3D printer that they could use to create whatever items they needed on demand. That single piece of equipment would exponentially reduce the supplies they’d need to bring with them, greatly simplifying the logistics of space exploration. Additive manufacturing could even be used for stellar construction and terraforming.[12]
It is unlikely that additive manufacturing will ever replace traditional production. Then again, it doesn’t need to. The new use cases it enables and the potential benefits it brings to industries such as automotive, aerospace, and construction are compelling in their own right.
Instead, what we’re likely to see is a future where businesses embrace the best of both worlds, using traditional manufacturing techniques for high-volume production while relying on additive manufacturing for customized products that continually push the limits of what’s possible.
Sources
[1] What is additive manufacturing? History and benefits. Accessed July 2024. https://triditive.com/what-is-additive-manufacturing-history-and-benefits/. [2] Padasak, Zachery. Top 10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Additive Manufacturing, October 5, 2022. https://www.alphaprecisionpm.com/blog/top-10-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-using-additive-manufacturing. [3] Vinoski, Jim. The Case For Bullishness On 3D Printing, March 18, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2024/03/18/the-case-for-bullishness-on-3d-printing/. [4] 3 Things That Are Holding Back 3d Printing Technology, May 22, 2022. https://lasertekservices.com/blogs/default-blog/3-things-that-are-holding-back-3d-printing-technology. [5] Peels, Joris. RIP 3D Printing: 1987 – 2023, Complexity is Expensive, October 13, 2023. https://3dprint.com/304204/rip-3d-printing-1987-2023-complexity-is-expensive-d/. [6] Petch, Michael. 3D PRINTING TRENDS FOR 2024 – INDUSTRY EXPERT ANALYSIS ON WHAT TO WATCH THIS YEAR, February 1, 2024. https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/3d-printing-trends-for-2024-industry-expert-analysis-on-what-to-watch-this-year-228030/. [7] 2024 3D PRINTING TRENDS TO WATCH FOR, January 4, 2024. https://shop3duniverse.com/blogs/digital-fabrication-in-the-news/2024-3d-printing-trends-to-watch-for. [8] 25 (Unexpected) 3D Printing Use Cases. Accessed July 19, 2024. https://formlabs.com/blog/25-unexpected-3d-printing-use-cases/. [9] 3 Things That Are Holding Back 3d Printing Technology, May 22, 2022. https://lasertekservices.com/blogs/default-blog/3-things-that-are-holding-back-3d-printing-technology. [10] Future technology: 22 ideas about to change our world, July 7, 2023. https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/future-technology-22-ideas-about-to-change-our-world. [11] Mesko, PhD, Dr. Bertalan. The Future of 3D Printing Drugs In Pharmacies Is Closer Than You Think, August 9, 2022. https://medicalfuturist.com/future-3d-printing-drugs-pharmacies-closer-think/. [12] Floreano, Dario, and Nicola Nosengo. The Plant-Inspired Robots That Could Colonize Mars, July 9, 2024. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-plant-inspired-robots-that-could-colonize-mars/.
Brandon Lewis has been a deep tech journalist, storyteller, and technical writer for more than a decade, covering software startups, semiconductor giants, and everything in between. His focus areas include embedded processors, hardware, software, and tools as they relate to electronic system integration, IoT/industry 4.0 deployments, and edge AI use cases. He is also an accomplished podcaster, YouTuber, event moderator, and conference presenter, and has held roles as editor-in-chief and technology editor at various electronics engineering trade publications. When not inspiring large B2B tech audiences to action, Brandon coaches Phoenix-area sports franchises through the TV.