Even though numerous businesses have been affected by the pandemic’s effects, 3D printing has seen an increase in use cases and trends in the years since the outbreak.
The fact that 3D printing has survived despite supply chain problems indicates the technology’s resiliency.
Like most traditional manufacturing, AM is continually evolving in new ways.
What trends in 3D printing can we expect to see this year?
Can 3D printing maintain its mainstream relevance?
4D printing
A process of using 3D printing methods to produce an object that can predictably shift its properties or shapes over time in reaction to conditions including water exposure, electric, air or heat current.
4D printing has one extra “D” than 3D printing. What exactly does that imply, and why does it add so much value to technology? 3D printing is the process of repeating a 2D structure in a print path, layer by layer, from the bottom to the top, until a 3D volume is generated. 3D printing that transforms over time is referred to as 4D printing
. As a result, a fourth dimension is introduced: time. So, the most significant advantage of 4D Printing over 3D Printing is its capacity to change shape over time.
4D printing has the potential to alter the face of fashion.
The MIT Self-Assembly Printing Lab is researching the uses of 4D technologies.
Clothing may change depending on the weather or the activity, according to one of the suggestions. When you start jogging,
for example, your shoes may change shape to provide you with better comfort and amortization like something straight out of a Sci-Fi movie.
Sustainability With 3d printing
3D printing is looked at as an alternative to conventional manufacturing methods in terms of sustainability.
This is a huge selling point for additive manufacturing.
compared to conventional technology, 3D printing generates less waste and a simple supply chain that reduces the number of resources spent on transporting materials
From upcycling materials to biodegradable filaments that don’t affect the environment, 3D print continues to involve and innovate. making use of discarded materials to create sustainable materials that are relatively harmless and can still be reused as materials for future projects.
We expect the 3D printing sector to respond as the demand for more sustainable products grows louder. This can take the form of more environmentally friendly materials like recycled or Earth-friendly filament.
Large Format 3d Printing
2021 saw the wide use of large format printing, with Australian company AML3D using a process based on direct energy composition to 3D print a “Panama Chock,” a fitting used in guiding a ship’s mooring lines.
Given the numerous industrial large-scale 3D printers that are now being created,
it is clear that this trend will continue through 2022.
This is true for practically all types of 3D printing, including those that use metal, polymers, or photopolymer resin.
Large-scale metal 3D printing, with an anticipated value of $739 million by 2026,
is thought to have the greatest commercial potential of the three.
Software Solutions
The pandemic struggles brought to light how AM could be the future of technology.
With limited supply all over the world.
3D printing emerged as the production approach with the least amount of impact from such concerns.
According to studies, in the year 2020, 65% of engineering organizations throughout the world would have adopted 3D printing to some extent.
The growing adoption of 3D printing has, however, brought to light the technology’s limitations.
It’s a great way to make a lot of parts quickly, especially in small batches, but it’s not practical for mass manufacturing. conventional technologies such as injection molding or casting, despite their high initial costs, are nonetheless cheaper per piece if a corporation wants to create millions of copies of a design.
To address this, the 3D printing industry is researching software solutions that could improve the production process.
Workflow management appears to be the next step in the growth of 3D printing software,
allowing it to adapt to large-scale industrial manufacturing.
The purpose of creating this type of software is to improve 3D printing workflows.
and make items more cost-effective on a per-piece basis.
As a result, 3D printing will become more competitive as a technique for producing final items rather than just prototypes. AMFG, Link 3D, and MakerOS are firms planning to leverage this.
In conclusion,
The coming months will see much excitement in the 3D printing space
as more people are not just talking about it
but also actively participating in adopting the technology, both as a hobby and an alternative production means.
It is expected that the above topics will be at the forefront in the coming months.
and, hey, we are here for this.
