Technology

[Image credit: 3D Hubs]   Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is one of the most popular polymer 3D printing technologies for industrial applications. Since its emergence more than 30 years ago, SLS has been gradually maturing into a technology capable of functional prototyping and, more recently, also production.   Driving this evolution is the ongoing innovation …

3D printing has been predicted to replace traditional manufacturing technologies. However, the real power of the technology may lie not in competing with, but in complementing and augmenting conventional manufacturing methods.    To back up this claim, below we’re exploring 5 key ways of how 3D printing can support traditional manufacturing.    1. 3D printing …

Post-processing can be one of the key bottlenecks in using additive manufacturing (AM) as an industrial process. Each AM technology requires its own set of post-processing solutions, which need to be automated as much as possible, to enable viable use of the technology in production.   Fortunately, the industry has started to tackle post-processing challenges, …

2019 marks yet another positive year for the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. This year, the industry has continued to mature into a production-ready process, with more companies adopting the technology or ramping up their involvement in the industry.    To highlight the evolution of AM, we’ve compiled a list of the key milestones that shaped …

The market for 3D printing materials is growing rapidly. Demand is increasing, with more companies buying additive manufacturing (AM) hardware and scaling their AM usage. In 2019, the AM materials market is valued at $1.5 billion. In the next five years, it’s expected to grow into a whopping $4.5 billion opportunity.   With such an …

Earlier this year, AMFG published its first-ever Additive Manufacturing Landscape 2019 report, looking at the key market players and biggest trends shaping the industry. Today, we’re launching a series of articles, taking a deeper dive into each segment of the additive manufacturing (AM) ecosystem, beginning with hardware.    In 2019, hardware manufacturers make up more …

Design flexibility, material efficiency and viable low-volume production are just some of the reasons why companies have increasingly turned to additive manufacturing (AM). But to make the most of AM in production, there are still some issues to tackle.    Below, we’re looking at some of the most pressing challenges the technology needs to overcome …

Metal 3D printing encompasses a broad range of technologies, each with its own benefits and applications — as well as its own level of maturity.    When looking to adopt a specific metal 3D printing technology for production, it’s crucial to understand where its capabilities and limitations currently lie. However, when often when it comes …

3D printing is creating an enormous opportunity for the medical industry. According to a report by market research firm, SmarTech Analysis, the market for medical 3D printing is currently estimated to be worth $1.25 billion. By 2027, the market value is set to grow to $6.08 billion. Clearly, the potential for 3D printing within healthcare …

Without a doubt, 2019 is an exciting time for 3D printing. The industry continues to move towards industrialisation, and the technology is increasingly becoming part of the wider manufacturing ecosystem.   But in such a rapidly evolving industry, it can be difficult to keep up with the key trends that are driving the future of …