Development Status of 3D Printing Technology

3D printing technology has developed rapidly in recent years, with various printing technologies constantly emerging and gradually maturing. The commonly used printing technologies currently include stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), digital light processing (DLP), etc. These technologies each have their own characteristics, and SLA excels in producing parts with high levels of detail, smooth surface finish, and strict tolerances, which are widely used in the medical industry; SLS melts nylon based powder into solid plastic, making the parts more robust and suitable for functional testing; FDM is relatively economical and easy to operate and maintain, and can use a variety of materials; DLP is similar to SLA, but uses a digital light projector screen to improve construction speed and is suitable for small batch production of plastic parts. At the same time, there are various types of processes involved in 3D printing. In terms of printing materials, they are mainly divided into laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) for metal and non-metal materials, binder spraying, laser directed energy deposition (L-DED), and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Polymer oriented technologies such as photopolymerization technology, digital light processing, melt deposition molding, selective laser sintering, etc. After years of development, many related technologies in China are no worse than those abroad, such as laser powder bed sintering and melting. However, there is still a gap in process technology compared to advanced foreign enterprises, and some foreign research institutions and technology companies are still leading the technological trend.

Application areas of 3D printing

The application fields of 3D printing technology are very extensive. In the field of industrial design, it is possible to quickly manufacture complex components and models, shorten product development cycles and costs, manufacture complex structures that are difficult to achieve with traditional processes, and provide more possibilities for product design. In the medical field, it is widely used to manufacture medical devices such as prostheses, teeth, bones, and can also be used to create models of human tissues and organs, providing surgical references for doctors. In the field of education, helping students better understand abstract concepts and spatial structures can be used to create teaching models and tools. In the automotive field, it can be used for rapid prototyping, tools, fixtures, production parts, etc. 3D printing technology can be used to quickly print prototypes of various tools, fixtures, jigs, and available parts, making it more convenient for enterprises to test and produce. For the production of some small batch customized tools, it can greatly save enterprise costs. In the construction industry, it can be used for rapid construction and personalized design of building models, reducing waste and saving time costs, and improving the safety and sustainability of buildings. In the field of culture and art, it can be used to manufacture artworks, jewelry, replicas of antiques, etc., achieving more precise and protective cultural and artistic inheritance. In the field of biomedicine, components and parts suitable for in vivo functions can be printed, such as heart valves, vascular stents, etc., providing more accurate anatomical structures for organisms. In addition, 3D printing technology plays an important role in fields such as aerospace and component printing.

3D Printing Market Size Forecast

The 3D printing market is expected to continue to grow in size. According to the "Market Competition Analysis and Development Prospect Forecast Report of China's 3D Printing Industry from 2024 to 2029" written by China Research Institute Puhua, 3D printing technology has been widely applied in multiple fields, and the 3D printing industry has broad prospects. The global 3D printing industry market size is expected to reach 24.8 billion US dollars in 2024. The computer simulation market has broad market prospects and huge development potential. With the continuous progress of technology and the expansion of application fields, the market size will continue to maintain a stable growth trend. The 3D printing market size in 2023 is 22.14 billion US dollars, an increase of 26.8% compared to 2022, far exceeding expectations. Based on a compound annual growth rate of 21%, it is expected that the market size will reach $24.8 billion by 2024 and $57.1 billion by the end of 2028.

Reasons for choosing 3D printing technology

There are many reasons why companies choose 3D printing technology. In terms of price, currently 3D printing is mainly used for making samples without the need for molds or other production tools, with less material waste and significant cost advantages. When the production quantity is less than a certain value, it also has cost advantages for small-scale production. In terms of speed, 3D printing samples often only take a few hours, and large samples only take a few days, which is significantly faster than the weeks required for traditional mold making samples. In terms of types, there are already various processes for 3D printing, such as FDM, SLA, SLS, SLM, DED, adhesive spraying, cold spraying, etc. The use of materials is also increasing, including various plastics, metals, ceramics, and even materials such as glass and wood that could not be printed before are gradually being overcome. In terms of molding, 3D printing has excellent molding capabilities and can construct complex geometric structures that cannot be achieved by other processes. It fully supports generative design and topology optimization, achieving lightweight while maintaining the same or even improving strength. In terms of quality, 3D printing has always been able to provide good accuracy with very small tolerances, and high-quality materials can provide good mechanical properties. Although there are layer patterns on the surface, they can be solved through post-processing. In addition, one of the biggest advantages of additive manufacturing is the ability to quickly and economically produce one-time or small-scale 3D printing. Design engineers in various fields can use 3D printing technology to quickly prototype design solutions, reducing the iteration cycle from months to days.

3D printing from prototype to production application

3D printing was initially applied in the field of prototype design, which can quickly present design concepts and provide timely feedback on results, greatly shortening the research and development cycle. With the development of technology, 3D printing has begun to manufacture final components or products, which are applied in fields such as aerospace, medical, and automotive. From the perspective of product types, they can be roughly divided into two categories: final product components and auxiliary tools in the production field. The production stage is the largest market for 3D printing. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing can break through the technical limitations of traditional manufacturing methods and produce parts with highly complex geometric shapes, ultra light weight, and stable performance. Expanding the "cake" rather than vicious competition is becoming a consensus among practitioners in the 3D printing industry. Recently, multiple 3D printing equipment manufacturers have achieved practical applications in areas such as continuous printing, manufacturing chain system integration, and quality control, which means that 3D printing is getting closer and closer to "mass production". By 2024, the entire industry has gradually expanded from prototype manufacturing to mass production, and has been widely applied in fields such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and education. In the future, with the continuous maturity of technology and the reduction of costs, 3D printing will be applied in more fields.

Common 3D Printing Technologies

There are many common 3D printing technologies. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one of the most common techniques, which involves heating and extruding plastic materials to stack layer by layer on a substrate into the desired shape. It is not only fast and easy to use, but also can be used to print complex 3D models. The main raw materials used are polypropylene, ABS, and casting paraffin. Light curing molding (SLA) is a technology based on liquid photosensitive polymers, which uses a laser beam to harden the photosensitive polymer material into the desired shape, and is typically used to manufacture high-precision models and products. Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a technology that uses powder materials to sinter powder onto a construction platform using laser to form 3D models. It can manufacture complex and robust components, making it particularly suitable for prototyping and direct manufacturing. Electron beam melting (EBM) is a technology that uses electron beams to shape materials. It uses high-energy electron beams to melt metal powders and construct metal components layer by layer. It is commonly used to manufacture metal parts and is particularly suitable for fields such as aerospace, automotive, and medical. Three dimensional printing (3DP) technology is a technology based on gypsum powder. By printing water-based adhesives on gypsum powder, the materials are bonded together, and using ink nozzles to dye the desired areas, highly detailed models can be manufactured at a very low cost. In addition, there are various technologies such as digital light processing (DLP), projection micro stereolithography (P μ SL), and laminated manufacturing (LOM).

The field of 3D printing is currently showing a thriving development trend. With the continuous advancement of technology, various printing technologies are becoming increasingly mature and have their own advantages. The application fields continue to expand, playing an important role in various fields from industrial design to healthcare, education, automotive, construction, and more. The integration of artificial intelligence and 3D printing further enhances the efficiency and quality control capabilities of the technology. The market size is also constantly expanding, with enormous potential for future growth. There are multiple reasonable reasons why companies choose 3D printing technology, and 3D printing is gradually moving from prototype design to mass production. Common printing technologies are diverse and offer multiple choices for users with different needs. It can be foreseen that the 3D printing field will continue to lead the transformation of the manufacturing industry in the future, bringing more innovation and development opportunities to various industries.