Additive manufacturing is transforming the way many types of products are designed and assembled. One industry that's benefitting the most is aerospace, which traditionally requires complex, low-volume components that must withstand rigorous operating conditions.
CAMBRIDGE, UK—Market research firm IDTechEx projects that the global market for 3D-printed medical devices will climb to more than $6 billion over the next decade.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Sandia National Laboratories has developed a 3D-printable material for enclosures that changes color when it has been tampered with. The material is made of metal ion microspheres.
The appeal of 3D printing is strong and growing among manufacturers in all sectors. For those in the aerospace industry, this technology offers a way to quickly and economically produce lighter parts that reduce airplane mass and fuel consumption.
Automotive engineers are intrigued by the numerous benefits of metal additive manufacturing for applications ranging from seat brackets to under-the-hood components.
Plastic injection molding, metal casting and metal stamping are age-old processes that form the backbone of manufacturing. Traditionally, there's no better way to mass-produce plastic or metal parts.
HUNTSVILLE, AL—The University of Alabama's Office for Operational Excellence here will participate in a recently funded program to integrate additive manufacturing into the United States Army, and pilot an additive manufacturing-based supply chain.
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA—ASTM International’s committee on additive manufacturing technologies is developing a standard for mechanical testing of additive-manufactured plastics.
