{"id":14387,"date":"2023-07-26T06:05:48","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T12:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulprospector.com\/knowledge\/?p=14387"},"modified":"2023-10-04T14:24:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T20:24:02","slug":"pe-3d-printing-continues-its-exciting-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/14387\/pe-3d-printing-continues-its-exciting-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"3D Printing Continues Its Exciting Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

For a 36-year-industry, 3D printing sure acts like the new kid on the block. Despite the first beta machines being commercialized in 1987, the technology continues to grow strongly as innovators and practitioners continue to find new materials, applications and methods to apply it.<\/p>\n

For nearly three decades, no one has tracked this growth more closely than Terry Wohlers, who recently oversaw the release of the Wohlers Report 2023<\/em>, offering data, analysis, trends and forecasts for the sector, now widely referred to as additive manufacturing (AM).<\/p>\n

Wohlers Associates, <\/a>now part of ASTM International, said in the recent 404-page report that global revenues for the AM sector as a whole grew by 18.3 percent last year. While down slightly from the 19.5 growth registered in 2021, Wohlers said this still reflects the market\u2019s overall recovery from the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Strong growth projected<\/h2>\n

Terry Wohlers says that in just the past decade the value of the global AM market has soared from about $2.3 billion to roughly $18 billion last year, and he sees the potential for much greater growth in the coming years.<\/p>\n

The sector also continues to host growing events such as the RAPID + TCT 2023 trade fair<\/a> in Chicago in early May. That show, North America\u2019s largest 3D printing event, featured 130 technical presentations and more than 350 exhibitors showcasing various types of printers, automation, software and materials, ranging from polymers<\/a> and metals to ceramics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Wohlers
Tracking 3D printing\u2019s growth. (Image: Wohlers Associates)<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Formnext Expo 2023<\/a> \u2013\u2013 the world\u2019s largest 3D event \u2013\u2013 will be held this coming November in Frankfurt, Germany, and is predicting some 800 exhibitors and more than 30,000 visitors.<\/p>\n

Additive manufacturing continues to face challenges related to scaling production. More automation is needed to help speed manufacturing and reduce manual labor costs. To that end, HP Inc.<\/a> at the RAPID+TCT show launched its new HP Jet Fusion 3D Automation Accessory and HP Jet Fusion Powder Handling Automation Solution. These \u201care designed to streamline workflows and cut down on costs for industrial 3D production,\u201d says HP.<\/p>\n

\"Helio
Helio Additive is bringing a 3D printing slicing tool to market with the support of Polymaker. (Image: Helio Additive)<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A voxel-based approach<\/h2>\n

Helio Additive<\/a> is attacking the issue from a different perspective. Co-founded in China in October 2020 by former Covestro AG executive David Hartmann and Polymaker CEO, Dr. Luo Xiaofan, Helio Additive is now a Delaware corporation. It has institutional investors from Germany, The Netherlands and angel investors from around the world, and just secured $1.55 million in new funding.<\/p>\n

Helio is developing a new, voxel-based approach to preparing 3D print jobs. (In 3D computer graphics, a voxel represents a value on a regular grid in three-dimensional space.) Helio\u2019s idea is to recognize that thermal and flow conditions are unique for each voxel in a 3D printed object, and this should be taken into account during printing. It\u2019s a physics-based slicing approach, using software to consider all these separate voxel conditions to better prepare extrusion parameters during the print job, explains Hartmann. Helio has built a sophisticated simulation engine to explore the process.<\/p>\n

\"Nexa3D
Nexa3D claims its recently launched XiP Pro printer is four times faster than competitive models. (Image: Trinity Wheeler Photography, for Nexa3D)<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An ultrafast printer<\/h2>\n

On the hardware side of things, Nexa3D used the RAPID show to introduce its XiP Pro industrial 3D printer designed for large build volume and ultrafast printing. The Ventura, California-based firm says the machine \u201cprints four times faster than the fastest industrial 3D printer currently on the market.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a 19.5-liter build volume, a single XiP Pro is said to deliver the daily throughput of at least four competitive resin-based printers, \u201callowing users to dramatically change the economics of 3D printing production, on top of reducing capital investment in equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GEHR
GEHR\u2019s new wood-based filament is mixed with\u00a0biodegradable biopolymers. (Image: GEHR)<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A wood-based filament<\/h2>\n

On the materials side, Mannheim, Germany-based GEHR, a family-owned producer of thermoplastic semi-finished products, recently introduced a 3D filament from a sustainable material called Sulapac<\/a>\u00ae. Helsinki, Finland\u2019s Sulapac Ltd. developed the novel, wood-based filament, which is designed for professional 3D printing with high dimensional stability and excellent elastic properties.<\/p>\n

The new product, called ECO-FIL-A-GEHR\u00ae Wood, is made of Sulapa<\/a>c\u00ae, which consists of recycled wood fibers mixed with biodegradable biopolymers. The eco-filament gives the printed objects a natural look and feel and a haptic touch. It can be used to print both extremely robust and stable parts as well as light, highly detailed objects. It meets U.S. and European Union food-contact requirements, is certified industrially compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute, contains 72 percent USDA-certified bio-based content, and leaves no permanent microplastic or toxic load behind.<\/p>\n

Novel end uses in construction<\/h2>\n

Many also are finding ways to apply additive manufacturing to novel applications, including in the building and construction industry. There is a lot of buzz now about 3D-printed buildings, though most are being created using materials such as concrete, steel and clay.<\/p>\n

\"BranchsChattanooga, Tennessee -based Branch Technology is using the world\u2019s largest freeform 3D printers to produce dimensional fa\u00e7ade panels for attaching to the faces of commercial buildings. Its most famous client is NASA, and Branch\u2019s panels are now adorning the facade of its new Space Camp\u00a0building at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama.\u00a0The building front (and a wall within the inside lobby) now replicates the look and texture of the moon\u2019s surface, derived by using digital data provided to Branch by NASA.<\/p>\n

The system being applied features Branch\u2019s CompositeCore\u2122 \u2013\u2013 consisting of a 3D-printed, carbon-fiber-reinforced ABS<\/a> matrix encapsulated in robotically milled, fire-rated, polyurethane insulation foam.\u00a0Compounder Techmer PM LLC supplies the custom material to Branch, which uses Kuka multi-axis robots to perform both the 3D printing and the milling. It then adds a durable finish to its CompositeCore\u2122 \u00a0panels, which are mechanically attached to the building face. Branch supplied a total of 148 large panels to the NASA site, where a three-person crew installed them in just six days.<\/p>\n

Once thought of as a technology useful only for prototyping or for producing intricate craft items, 3D printing continues to be driven forward by creativity and innovation occurring at warp speed. While many challenges clearly remain, the industry is improving processes, finding new materials, and getting clever in how to apply additive manufacturing in a multitude of useful ways. One could say that this once-nascent industry is finally growing up fast.<\/p>\n

\n

Upgrade your Prospector account to include property search functions for selecting materials for additive manufacturing. Learn more<\/a>!<\/h3>\n
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For a 36-year-industry, 3D printing sure acts like the new kid on the block. Despite the first beta machines being commercialized in 1987, the technology continues to grow strongly as innovators and practitioners continue to find new materials, applications and … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":14391,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[1244],"class_list":{"0":"post-14387","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-plastics-2","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n3D Printing Continues Its Exciting Journey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"3D printing technology continues to grow as innovators and practitioners continue to find new materials, applications and applications.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/14387\/pe-3d-printing-continues-its-exciting-journey\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3D Printing Continues Its Exciting Journey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"3D printing technology continues to grow as innovators and practitioners continue to find new materials, applications and methods to apply it. 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He has broad global experience and for more than 35 years has worked as a journalist, editor-in-chief, publishing executive and key connector of like-minded parties. He has launched successful publications and C-level events on three continents. While with Crain Communications Inc., he oversaw the relaunch of the 100-year-old European Rubber Journal in London and helped to start Urethanes Technology magazine there. \u00a0In 1988 Bob returned to Akron, Ohio, to serve as founding editor of Plastics News, an award-winning, weekly business newspaper. In 2005 he oversaw the editorial launch of the bilingual (Chinese and English) PN China e-newsletter and website. For more than a decade at PN he also held the titles of associate publisher, editorial director and conference director, and most recently served as business development director. A long-time affiliate member of the Industrial Designers Society of America, Bob has organized numerous design-focused events, earned a Personal Recognition Award from IDSA in 2013, and constantly strives to help bridge the gap between the design and manufacturing communities. In 2014 he left Crain and created RC Grace LLC in Akron, Ohio, as a consultancy that aims to help companies to enhance their branding and market presence, find business partners, connect with design resources (here or in Asia), secure funding and advance their growth initiatives. Email Bob or visit his website at www.rcgrace.com to learn more about how he can help you.","sameAs":["http:\/\/ulprospector.com"],"url":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/author\/robert-grace\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":1244,"user_id":23,"is_guest":0,"slug":"robert-grace","display_name":"Bob Grace","avatar_url":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/media\/2017\/10\/Robert-Grace_avatar_1508791447-96x96.jpg","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14387\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14387"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=14387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}