New Report Documents Growth of Metal 3-D Printing
March 1, 2019
3Diligent recently released its 2019 State of Metal 3D Printing Report, which provides a comprehensive source of information on current trends in metal 3-D printing and existing and emerging metal printing processes for the product designer or business that is considering a metal 3-D printing project.
"The report documents the enthusiasm and growth of metal 3-D printing as evidenced by several high-profile projects from Fortune 500 companies," said a company spokesperson. However, the report notes that metal 3-D printing has not yet fully experienced a transformative speed breakthrough in the same way as polymer printers. The report highlights a number of technologies that may represent candidates for this breakthrough in metal printing efficiency.
The report also presents data from 3Diligent projects to provide additional context for the advancement of metal 3-D printing. According to research conducted by 3Diligent of 3-D printing project requests in 2018, 45% requested metal printing processes, while 47% specified polymer and 7% left the decision to 3Diligent and its network of fabricators to suggest an optimal process. This represents increased growth in metal printing demand since 2015, when just 14% of 3-D printing project requests were for metal processes.
The 24-page report also provides a summary of the various existing and emerging metal 3-D printing processes, including tradeoffs and applications for each, including:
- Powder bed fusion - laser melting and electron beam melting
- Binder jetting - sand print-to-cast, full sinter and infiltrated
- Directed energy deposition
- Hybrid systems - additive with milling
- Sheet lamination
- Wax print-to-cast
- Print-to-plating
- Material jetting
- Extrusion metal
- Cold spray
- Stir welding
- Vat photopolymerization.
"Metal 3-D printing is continuing to experience rapid growth, both in volume and variety. Understanding the various technologies available can be overwhelming," said Cullen Hilkene, 3Diligent CEO. "We have published this report in hopes that it can help readers make better informed decisions with their metal 3-D printing projects and investments."
To download the 2019 State of Metal 3D Printing Report, visit www.3diligent.com/resources/white-papers/metal-3d-printing-review-2019/.
For more information contact:
3Diligent
128 Sierra St., Ste. 202
El Segundo, CA 90245
855-302-3339
info@3diligent.com
www.3Diligent.com
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