ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Asia Pacific has been gradually emerging as a manufacturing hub owing to the easy availability of all the necessary resources ,” it added .
AM is a capital-intensive technology . The market also lacks the standard process controls and is facing a shortage of skilled workers required for AM . Nevertheless , the initiatives being pursued by various governments to increase awareness and promote the benefits of adopting 3D printers are expected to play a vital role in countering these restraints and driving the growth of the market over the forecast period .
Major metals used in the global additive manufacturing market are stainless steel , aluminium and titanium . The rise in demand for lightweight materials is expected to positively impact the global market .
When to choose AM
“ 3D printing is not a cure-all for every manufacturing need ; so far it has only made sense for the highest-value , lowest-volume , most-customised work . For high-volume production , conventional methods remain more cost effective . Nevertheless , the economics of 3D printing are improving , and the cost-per-part threshold is moving : it ’ s becoming practical to use the technology in incrementally lower-value , higher-volume applications . Fuelled by technology innovation and improving material properties , AM is bound to further expand beyond prototyping toward end-use parts and mass production ,” outlined Formlabs .
Additive manufacturing has many advantages such as flexible design , a faster production cycle , a slower resource requirement and substantial savings on tooling over manufacturing technologies such as vacuum casting , CNC machining and injection moulding . In many cases , 3D printing serves as an intermediate step alongside conventional manufacturing methods , also known as hybrid production .
AM hardware and materials are
advancing rapidly , and cost per part is continuing to fall , opening a more comprehensive range of lowto mid-volume applications . Leading manufacturers are leveraging additive manufacturing to save money , shorten lead times , solve complex problems and improve processes from prototyping to production .
“ One of the greatest benefits of this more modern technology is the greater range of shapes which can be produced ,” explained SmarTech Analysis . Designs that cannot be manufactured in one entire piece using traditional means can easily be achieved . For example , shapes with a scooped-out or hollow centre can be produced as a single piece , without the need to weld or attach individual components together . This has the advantage of being stronger with no weak spots which can be compromised or stressed .
“ 3D printing is benefiting manufacturers in terms of prototyping ; designs of structures and end products ; modelling and time to market . As a result , production expenses have reduced considerably and manufacturers are in a position to offer better products at reasonable prices . As a result of these benefits , the demand for 3D printers is expected to increase in the coming years ,” commented analyst , Grand View Research .
The increased demand for customised products across various industries has also fuelled the rise of additive manufacturing . AM
Above : Additive manufacturing metal component production through selective laser beam melting for BMW .
Left : 3D-printed parts for the WASP motorcycle .
A 3D-printed part for AUDI AG .
enables the manufacturing of complex designs that are too difficult or expensive to produce using traditional machining , milling , moulds and dies . It also excels at rapid prototyping , offering a dynamic and design-driven process . AM is ideal for making prototypes quickly using 3D
CAD and eliminates the extensive process and associated high costs . Lead times can be halved , compared to conventional methods such as injection moulding , allowing companies to have quicker go-to-market strategies . A printed prototype also enables close examination for modifications and customisations , before embarking on massprinting . This helps companies to save costs before committing to bulk print orders .
Growing emphasis by the EU Commission to reduce the overall weight of vehicles for reducing emissions is also likely to influence market growth . Advances in metal 3D printing technology are projected to open up new horizons for lighter , safer and cleaner products .
Multiple industries , including healthcare , automotive and aerospace and defence , are experiencing production and business transformations in the critical areas of their businesses , owing to the maturity of additive technologies and material supply chains . For example , interior aircraft parts , such as ducting , vents and airflow systems which are created with additive manufacturing , enable designers to trim weight , reduce the number of components in the assemblies and conform to tight cabin interiors . AM provides design freedom to experiment with more effective and efficient part shapes , with fewer potential points of failure .
Automotive applications
OEMs and suppliers are exploring creative solutions for additive manufacturing beyond rapid prototyping and making use cases for high-volume direct manufacturing in the future .
“ One of the main benefits of additive manufacturing is increased speed , enabling a more productive process and generating a paradigm shift for the development of tooling and vehicle components . Automotive parts can be designed and made in a matter of days rather than the typical turnaround time of weeks . By including additive manufacturing equipment outside of the design studio and on the factory floor , automakers can create multiple assemblies from one machine to save time and reduce the amount of component inventory on the shelf ,” commented manufacturer , BASF .
“ Additive manufacturing also enables greater design freedom and the ability to