Applications of 3D-printing in various industries:
Applications of 3D-printing
3D printing (additive manufacturing) is a highly multidisciplinary manufacturing method with a wide range of applications, and as the technology continues to evolve, the number of use cases is steadily increasing. Many companies and analysts predict significant growth in the use of 3D printing. For example, GE has estimated that 25–50% of global production will utilize 3D printing in some way, whereas currently the usage rate is still only a few percent.
A general overview of 3D printing applications can also be found in the Wikipedia article “Applications of 3D printing”, which lists a broad range of use cases. When reading Wikipedia articles, it’s important to maintain source criticism. Link to wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applications_of_3D_printing
Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is a group of production methods that has been primarily driven by the needs of industry and healthcare. Due to technical limitations, its use has traditionally focused on prototypes and small batch production, but the rapidly accelerating pace of development has changed the situation over the past five years. It is increasingly common for companies across various industries to use the method directly for final product manufacturing.
This section of the knowledge base contains examples and brief summaries of how additive manufacturing is used in different sectors. Use cases include:
- Prototypes (visual models and functional models)
- Tool manufacturing (molds, jigs, fixtures, adapters, covers, etc.)
- Healthcare applications (anatomical models, prosthetics, drilling and surgical guides)
- Dental applications (crowns, bridges, models, aligners, etc.)
- Construction (architectural and design models, 3D printing of concrete and large structures)
- End-product manufacturing in industries such as:
- Aviation and Aerospace industries
- Automotive and motorsports
- Energy industry
- Construction industry
- Furniture industry
- Mechanical engineering industry
- Textile- and footwear industry
- Music industry
The following two charts illustrate the extent of additive manufacturing usage across different industries and application areas. These charts are from the Wohler’s Report 2023 and are based on service provider customer statistics from 2022.
When reviewing the charts, it’s important to note that they are based on statistics reported by the world’s largest service providers. Therefore, they do not account for 3D printing equipment and applications used internally within companies. In some industries, additive manufacturing is already being used directly for final product manufacturing on companies’ own production lines.
