3D Printing: The Next Industrial Revolution, 2016 Update
March 28, 2016 | Semico ResearchEstimated reading time: 1 minute
3D printing is an additive manufacturing process. In recent years, 3D printer prices have dropped substantially, and a wide variety of printable materials is available. You don’t need to be a CAD expert to create a 3D-printable file. Media attention has helped further accelerate the industry’s momentum.
It has captured the imagination of many, with the possibility of starting a manufacturing revolution. New applications and materials are announced on a (very) frequent basis. 3D printing is being used in many more applications than most people realize. But the most exciting applications for 3D printing are the ones that haven’t even been conceived of yet. It’s exciting to realize we are on the cusp of a manufacturing revolution that affects so many different industries already.
Industries using 3D printing for production-level manufacturing include the aerospace industry, where the ability to redesign parts to be just as strong but much lighter than traditional parts translates to fuel savings. This high strength-to-weight ratio also benefits most other forms of transportation.
Another promising application for 3D printing is in the medical arena, where 3D printing enables mass customization to make parts designed for an individual’s measurements. Designs are based on CT scan data that is readily available. Surgeons can use virtual tools to prepare for surgery, which includes a personalized set of guides, instruments and implants.
2013-2014 was a period of high growth due to media attention, resulting in over-capacity, and consolidation. 2015 was a year of increasing utilization of existing printers, while the end customers were adjusting to the new printers and capacity. Near-term, the focus for desktop printer sales is in education and engineering. In fact, 3D Systems exited the consumer 3D printing space, discontinuing its $999 Cube 3D printer and its Cubify business.
This report includes applications for 3D printing, including a section on 3D printing in electronics. It also reviews different types of printers, materials, and processes for 3D printing, and includes profiles for some of the major players. A forecast for the 3D printing market includes printers, services and materials.
Suggested Items
ASMC 2024 to Showcase AI, Smart Manufacturing and Sustainability to Advance Chip Industry Manufacturing Expertise
03/27/2024 | SEMIMore than 125 experts will offer insights into the latest semiconductor manufacturing strategies and methodologies as hundreds of industry stakeholders gather at the 35th annual SEMI Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference (ASMC 2024), May 13-16 in Albany, New York.
NextFlex Announces $5M Education Fundraising Effort: First Spotlight - Transforming the Landscape for Women in Technology
03/27/2024 | BUSINESS WIRENextFlex Learning Programs, the education-focused arm of the NextFlex® Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute, announces its first spotlight effort, “NextFlex Supports Women in STEM” to increase the number of women in STEM fields, which could accelerate U.S. GDP growth by boosting women’s cumulative earnings by $299B and adding $5.9T to the global stock market within 10 years according to S&P Global.
Don Dennison Appointed to Roll Out KIC’s Latest Thermal Analysis System Software in the Northeast
03/26/2024 | KICKIC, a renowned pioneer in thermal process and temperature measurement solutions for electronics manufacturing, is pleased to announce the appointment of PIT Equipment Services, LLC, led by Don Dennison, as its representative for New York, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania.
ACDi Takes Milestone Delivery of the 23,000th Koh Young Machine
03/26/2024 | ACDiAccording to ACDi (American Computer Development, Inc.), “Flexible, reliable, and equipped to keep your project on schedule, is what you need as an electronics manufacturing services partner.”
American Made Advocacy: Going Beyond the CHIPS Act to Power American Manufacturing
03/26/2024 | Travis Kelly -- Column: American Made AdvocacyWhere have all the factories gone? A tour of America’s former bustling manufacturing communities is a stark reminder that, for the past three decades, we let the microelectronics manufacturing ecosystem disappear overseas, primarily to Asia. For decades, foreign competitors seeking to control critical markets played a long game. Government investment and subsidies were effective in undercutting U.S. and European companies. As other countries created this unfair competitive advantage in manufacturing, the know-how also migrated in their direction. This resulted in the serious workforce challenges the semiconductor and printed circuit board industries face today.