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3D PRINTING


in 2015, based on research for Wohlers Report 2016. To give some appreciation for this estimate, 12,558 industrial AM ma- chines (priced at more than $5000) were sold in 2015.


The RepRap Mattel plans to ship its new ThingMaker, based on material extrusion, in the second half of this year.


In this particular case, it is diffi cult to see how the use of 3D printing technology could save time or money. When you factor in the added cost of a large, expensive, and not very portable 3D printer, the cost of these wall sections are likely far more expensive and time-consuming than conventional walls. The use of 3D printing may be good for the purpose of marketing and gaining attention, but that’s all, at least for now.


The FDM Phenomenon Since the early 2000s, fused deposition modeling (FDM)—


more formally referred to as material extrusion by ASTM and ISO—has been the most popular AM and 3D printing pro- cess worldwide. In 2003, Stratasys sold nearly as many FDM machines as all other AM machines combined, according to our research for Wohlers Report 2004. In 2006, Stratasys was responsible for 54.7% (1723) of all AM systems sold.


Wohlers Associates counts 34 companies offering metals for AM.


Although few people knew it at the time, 2007 was a turn- ing point for FDM technology. This was when the RepRap project, an open-source effort focused on FDM technology, began to gain traction. It coincided with the expiration of key FDM foundation patents held by Stratasys. We believe that 66 low-cost (under $5000) FDM clones were sold in 2007, but the sale of these products grew to an estimated 278,385


52 AdvancedManufacturing.org | May 2016


project has served as the foundation for hundreds of startup companies that have produced and sold FDM clones around the world. A knowledgeable and


well-connected person in China told us in December 2015 that as many as 1000 manufacturers of FDM clones may be in operation in China alone.


A lot has happened since the fi rst FDM machines were sold by Stratasys in 1991. Few envisioned the impact of the expiring patents and the open-source RepRap project. With so many companies trying to build businesses around FDM, it is unclear how many will survive. Someone once said that it’s a race to the bottom, and to some degree, this person is right. Few of these low-cost 3D printers are being used by average consumers in homes, but they are gaining traction for basic modeling and prototyping at companies of all sizes. Also, educational institutions at many levels are buying them in impressive numbers.


Summary and Conclusions The AM industry is strong and hitting on all cylinders, despite stock values that have been less than stellar over the past two years. When setting them aside, it’s diffi cult to not get excited about the introduction of so many new compa- nies, machines, materials, and services. New applications are also developing, especially the manufacture of parts for fi nal products. Low-cost, desktop 3D printers are gaining in popularity, especially among companies and educational in- stitutions. A foundation built over the past 28 years, coupled with so many new developments, point to a future that will soon be measured in tens of billions of dollars in AM prod- ucts and services worldwide.


Photo courtesy Mattel


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