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Automated post-processing system producer PostProcess has printed its findings from the 2021 version of its Additive Manufacturing Submit-Printing Business Traits Survey.
Following sizzling on the heels of 2020’s pandemic-dominated report, the agency says that this yr’s survey exhibits 3D printing companies are beginning to put what they’ve discovered from COVID-19 into practise, with post-processing turning into a precedence for these beginning to enter “greater quantity manufacturing,” and lots of opting to deploy only a single additive manufacturing expertise.
A deep-dive into post-processing
Launched in 2019, PostProcess’ now-annual survey is designed to encourage the customers of post-processing programs to share their experiences of using the expertise in practise. By collating the ensuing information, the agency then goals to plot a course for the post-printing and 3D printing trade, in addition to integrating its learnings into the merchandise it brings to market itself.
Previous editions of the ballot have offered fascinating insights, shining a lightweight on the connection between resin removing and floor ending, in addition to serving to determine a few of the trade’s key tendencies and challenges, thus this yr’s survey guarantees to be equally insightful in regards to the post-pandemic prospects of these working within the sector.
Demographically, 51% of the contributors to PostProcess’ third survey have used 3D printing for greater than 5 years, up from the 45% reported in 2020, that means that its outcomes are as well-based as ever. At 52%, greater than half of contributors additionally originate in Europe, with 39% coming from the U.S, and respondents hailing from over 25 industries throughout the board, starting from automotive to the medical trade.
Figuring out 2021’s AM tech tendencies
PostProcess discovered materials extrusion, vat photopolymerization, and powder mattress fusion (PBF) to be the commonest applied sciences utilized by respondents to its 2021 ballot. Nevertheless, in comparison with the identical interval of 2020, the agency additionally recognized a fall from 70% to 50% of these utilizing a couple of manufacturing expertise, suggesting that producers are beginning to specialize to optimize their workflows.
Equally, relating to extrusion 3D printing’s ache factors, contributors reported half consistency, lead occasions and harm as their high three. Curiously although, whereas these customers highlighted probably the most ache factors of any expertise surveyed, vat photopolymerization noticed the biggest swing in priorities, with adopters shifting focus from labor and throughput points, in direction of security and sustainability.
In accordance with PostProcess, the rising issues of vat photopolymerization customers are most “seemingly because of the progress of resin-based options,” along with “the particular concerns that tie into this expertise.”
On the post-processing entrance, the agency discovered (as in earlier years), that assist removing and floor ending have been the highest two most used applied sciences, one thing it sees as depending on the wants of 3D printers themselves. For the third straight yr, contributors additionally stated that half ending was their primary concern on this space, though this proportion declined from 75% to 53% between 2019 and 2021.
PostProcess’ operational insights
With regards to complete post-printing outlay, PostProcess’ survey discovered that respondents are more and more spending over 1 / 4 of their finances on the exercise, with the share of these doing so rising from 23% to 31% since final yr. This improve was most clearly reported by DED customers, though these represented a minority of the ballot’s contributors, and extrusion 3D printer adopters stated they spend the least.
Against this, it was these producers requiring using removing processes that reported spending probably the most on post-printing, as a proportion of their additive manufacturing finances. PostProcess says that is largely right down to the truth that their elements “seemingly want a number of methods to complete,” necessitating the utilization of varied machines, in addition to spending on the employees coaching required to function them.
Curiously, the agency’s survey additionally confirmed that the proportion of producers utilizing 3D printing for prototyping fell dramatically between 2019 and 2021, from 65% to 52%. This probably marks a major change in attitudes amongst its ballot’s contributors, as 57% of them stated in 2019 that the expertise could be used for prototyping for the following 3-5 years, however in 2021, solely 44% felt this was the case.
Consistent with this wider shift in direction of printed elements being deployed inside ‘production-like environments,’ 76% of respondents stated their future funding in 3D printing would revolve round enhancing finish half high quality, whereas post-processing-wise, 60% reported that they have been looking for to optimize the well being, security and sustainability of their operations.
Transferring forwards, PostProcess says that 32% of producers reported an intention to extend their use of 3D printing post-COVID, with the vast majority of these being based mostly in Europe. Specifically, these customers, which are inclined to hail from the ‘job store’ trade, urged they have been almost definitely to purchase new PBF or vat polymerization programs, and materials jetting adopters proved extra reluctant to take action.
These excited by studying the 2021 version of PostProcess’ Additive Manufacturing Submit-Printing Business Traits Survey in full can accomplish that right here.
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Featured picture exhibits an engineer utilizing a PostProcess machine. Photograph through PostProcess.
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