The 3D printing industry has grown in a short period of time for the following reasons: firstly, increased investment in research and development has led to advances in technology, and 3D printers are more powerful, cheaper and faster. Since 2012, the number of patents filed in the field of 3D printing has risen by more than 40%. In addition, the category of printing materials has been enriched, and the scope of use of 3D printers has been expanding. 3D printing materials mainly include metal materials, polymer materials and ceramic materials, among which plastics are still the most frequently used materials, but the metal materials are increasing rapidly, and the utilization rate increased to about 36% in 2018. The prevalent use of metal materials has boosted the sales of industrial-grade 3D printers, advancing the expansion of 3D printing from the consumer market to the high-end manufacturing market. Third, the application of 3D printing technology in industrial production is being actively explored in order to be able to accelerate product development, enhance the performance of goods and improve the responsiveness to user needs in industries such as automotive, electronics, aerospace, medical and footwear. Fourth, primary and secondary schools and educational and training institutions have set up 3D printing-related courses and training to promote the full popularization of 3D printers in schools, homes and small and medium-sized enterprises.
3D printing eliminates the need for molding, monolithic molding and shorter production cycles. It is well suited for producing and delivering complex, low-volume goods in a short period of time. As a result, it is commonly used for prototyping, customized production and complex component manufacturing. However, there are obvious drawbacks to 3D printing: 3D printers are expensive, production time is long and there are no economies of scale. The cost of high-volume products is significantly higher than traditional processing methods; the price of printing materials is high and the range is very limited. There is still a difference between the strength of the material and the precision of the process compared to traditional precision machining methods.
The industry is still growing at a rapid pace, and applications will continue to expand as 3D printers, materials, and post-processing technologies evolve.
The industry is still growing at a rapid pace.