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Due to the application of new materials and advancement in technologies, 3D printing for manufacturing has become increasingly popular in a range of industries.
What was once considered a hobbyist technology has now become a preferred industrial manufacturing innovation, for businesses of all sizes, in multiple sectors, due to its benefits and solutions.
In fact, 2023 broke records for additive manufacturing systems. In a recent 3D printing report conducted by Hubs (2023), of the 1,000+ participants surveyed, over 71% currently use 3D printing in some function of manufacturing. Additionally, this study predicts 3D printing market growth to increase by 17% this year.
Other significant trends identified for 2024, and beyond, includes the shift to distributed manufacturing. As technology trends continue to enable manufacturers to establish a more efficient and industrialized workflow and due to recent disruptions in supply chains, businesses have pivoted to new methods, including rethinking their centralized production model.
Many companies have already implemented 3D printing as a long-term improved approach to previous production methods, or are set to adopt and shift away from other more traditional manufacturing methods.
Of the industries experiencing high growth and disruption due 3D printing, the top sectors include: healthcare, construction, automotive and motorcycle and aerospace industries.
Organizations that opt to leverage the use of 3D printing, are positioned to benefit from a new level of data storage and tracking methods.
Due to the advancing technologies companies now have the ability to code digital information into the surface texture of a custom part. The advantage of strategically embedding unique tracking information into the surface texture of a custom part assists machines and people to identify it for use.
This technological advancement in 3D printing has created a way for businesses to capture a much larger carrying capacity, or transmission of unique data, in comparison to previous tracking methods, such as individual product serial numbers. The improved process and accuracy of tracking a series of numbers has also greatly improved the accuracy and speed of inventorying parts. In addition, this new technological advancement has opened up a plethora of possibilities to track and identify specific inventory of parts, revolutionizing the way businesses track product inventory in many industries.
One of the top industries experiencing high growth due to 3D printing is healthcare due to the improvements in customization and tailoring of devices due to manufacturing methods.
One of the key benefits of 3D printing in healthcare is the option of creating customized and patient-specific devices and implants faster and with greater accuracy. Traditional healthcare manufacturing methods often involve mass production of standard-sized devices, with the downside of less customization and specifications. With the application of 3D printing for manufacturing methods, devices can now be tailored to the specific customizations and dimensions for each product, or tailored to each individual patient, such as with prosthesis, offering medical professionals much more versatility (NCBI, 2023).
Other applications of 3D printing in the healthcare industry involves bone and joint replacement procedures, dental procedures, bio printing of artificial organs and tissue, along with other medical devices. Although 3D printing in the healthcare industry is relatively new, its applications are vast and revolutionizing the way surgeries are conducted, bone replacement and implants in both medical and dental applications.
The application of 3D printing in the construction industry is a trend that is projected to continue to experience strong growth in 2023. 3D printing technology has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry by providing a more precise and cost-effective building method. Due to an overall more automated process, benefits of 3D printing in construction include cost reduction, automation, speed, improved sustainability, and greater freedom of design. Additionally, this method reduces waste materials on each job site.
Another major benefit of 3D printing in the construction industry involves faster and easier production of complex shapes and designs, to an overall improved project execution turn around time. The adaptation of 3D printing also provides greater design flexibility and the possibility to create structures that would otherwise be difficult, or even impossible to build with more traditional manufacturing methods. Conventional building methods can take considerably more time to produce, along with create higher project price tags due to the costs of materials and labor costs. Additionally, as 3D printing potentially cuts down on the costs of materials required to complete a project due to reduced materials, there is greater potential for reduction environmental impact.
Other applications and benefits of 3D printing in the construction industry includes the creation of custom-fit structural components, the production of entire buildings, and construction of infrastructures such as bridges and roads.
Along with these benefits, there are also several challenges experienced in the construction industry that need to be addressed in order to overcome barriers and for 3D printing to become more widely adopted. Some of these potential challenges include issues are related to the strength and durability of 3D printed structures, as well as the need for increased regulation and standardization in the construction industry. Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of 3D printing in construction remain very significant, with projections of its application in the construction industry increasing in the coming years and beyond.
In the world of the automotive and recreational vehicle industry, the benefits 3D printing technology are expected to be far-reaching.
The application of 3D printing in the automotive industry refers to a manufacturing process through which designers can quickly fabricate a three-dimensional prototype of a physical part or assembly, from a simple element, or even a scale model of an entire car using a printing machine.
3D printing offers small and mid-size companies methods of printing parts, building wear-resistant parts, adding surface treatments, and even turning motors into plastic parts.
This innovative technology, speeds up and enables companies to turn ideas into convincing proof of concept, and is on track to revolutionize the manufacturing industry, providing limitless possibilities for businesses and consumers alike. In terms of motorcycle parts, 3D printing refers to a technique for building three-dimensional objects layer-by-layer from a computer-generated design.
3D printing is a manufacturing technique that, “helps to create prototype parts and add new iterations within a short time” (Rapiddirect, 2023). Motorcycle enthusiasts now can easily create and print custom automotive parts and test the functionality of their design. According to Michele Gadda, Engineering Manager at Yamaha Motor Racing, “Roboze ARGO 500 allows us to produce components in carbon and with materials resistant to very high temperatures. For our technical team it was a real breakthrough. We have already tested and had very satisfactory results. Reducing weights and production times, guaranteeing compliance with test deadlines, give us the opportunity to express the ingenuity and skills of our technicians” (TCT, 2023). According to Roboze, the capabilities of 3D printing technology allows for the printing of motorcycle parts in lightweight materials also offering the capability of replacement of metal parts, which improves the overall aerodynamics of the bike.
In addition to the motorcycle industry, there has been an increase in the number of manufacturers that are adopting metal AM for the production of end-use parts. Among these industries are the aerospace and energy markets.
According to a comprehensive study reported in Market Watch (2023), the global aerospace 3D printing market is valued at approximately USD 2.66 billion as of 2021 and is anticipated to grow with a steady growth rate to over 16.07% between the years 2022-2029. The global aerospace 3D printing market is expanding due to factors, including the high demand for lightweight parts and components as well as the increased use of composite materials.
According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), the aviation sector is set to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Due to the growing demand for 3D-printed components in space applications, the spacecraft segment is a market segment that is predicted to grow steadily in the upcoming years. In Asia Pacific, the segment’s expansion is being fueled by the increased investments of key investors and the space industry. According to IATA, the increased need for lightweight and long-lasting aircraft components significantly contributes to market growth.
A large degree of variations in materials used for 3D printing applications, such as metal or plastics, remains significant, although the data reveals plastics as the top choice overall. Studies also show the polymer segment of the 3D printing market representing the largest share of market value, with FDM, SLA, and SLS remaining the most widely used processes. Despite this trend, polymer additive manufacturing saw slower growth in 2022, and the metal 3D printing segment is forecasted to have an overall stronger growth rate for the foreseeable future.
A the recent study conducted by by Hubs (2023) of the respondents surveyed, one-third, currently use plastics and metals equally, and of those who use plastics or metals, the application of plastics led by just a little over 10% (Hubs, 2023).
Challenges do exist in terms of materials accessibility, with more than half of survey respondents noting materials as hard to come by, taking too long to develop, or nearly double the numbers from 2019 (Hubs, 2023).
Additionally, survey respondents note that materials are too expensive to use at scale, with many materials unavailable or uncertified.
Since 2022, 3D Concepts Moto has been printing motorcycle parts. The father and son team, including Stuart, Paul, and Andrew Connell, got their start in the 3D printing industry when Stuart bought his first printer. Because of his “do-it-myself” personality, he naturally started printing anything he could think of, including parts for their own motorcycles. After showing the cool stuff made for their own dirt bikes and getting a lot of interest from friends, family, and the local Treasure Valley community, 3D Concepts Moto began.
The father and son team is comprised of a retired construction and mining equipment engineer who used to race motocross, a car, truck, and motorcycle enthusiast, and a certified aircraft mechanic who loves to ride in the mountains. Together, we’ve been printing motorcycle parts for the past four years before starting 3D Concepts as a company.
Our motorcycle addiction goes back to the 1970s and 80s when father, Stuart, raced motocross in the Southwest part of the United States. Andrew and Paul’s first bikes were a Yamaha YZ-80 and a KTM 125SX. Andrew took to the dirt like a fish to water, while Paul’s interest peaked when he moved to Idaho in 2012, because of the amazing mountain single track.’’
The core values guiding 3D Concepts Moto’s vision stems from the application of custom parts on their own motorcycles. “We started making motorcycle parts for ourselves, because we wanted something better. Now we want to provide something better for our customers as well.”
The motivation behind 3D Concepts Moto’s vision is simple. We love to ride, and we love to build things! It’s our goal is to offer cost-effective, protection for critical off-road motorcycle parts for our customers. It’s these primary values that kick-started our business and is the fuel that motivates our success.
Phone: 903-647-4926
Email: [email protected]