Table of Contents

What is 3D Printing?.................................................................................................................. 4

Evolution of 3D Printing:........................................................................................................... 4

Market Scenario ......................................................................................................................... 6

Major Players in 3D Printing: .................................................................................................... 8

Major Players Outside India: ................................................................................................. 8

1. 3D Systems .............................................................................................................. 8

2. Protolabs Inc. ........................................................................................................... 8

3. Materialise NV ........................................................................................................ 9

Major Players in India:........................................................................................................... 9

1. THINK3D ................................................................................................................ 9

2. Imaginarium............................................................................................................. 9

Types of 3D Printers: ............................................................................................................... 10

Stereolithography (SLA):..................................................................................................... 10

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) aka Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF): .................... 11

Specific laser sintering (SLS): ............................................................................................. 12

Industrial Applications of 3D Printing:.................................................................................... 14

Business Models in 3d Printing ............................................................................................... 16

Downstream Model:............................................................................................................. 18

Upstream Model: ................................................................................................................. 18

Trends in 3D Printing............................................................................................................... 19

1. Printing Skin .......................................................................................................... 19

2. Houses ................................................................................................................... 19

3. Inventory Management .......................................................................................... 19

4. Automobile Industry .............................................................................................. 20

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 5. 3D Printed Firearms............................................................................................... 20

Reference: ................................................................................................................................ 21

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What is 3D Printing?
Additive Manufacturing is another term for 3D printing (AM). In 3D printing, a design of an
object is created using software, and the object is created by the 3D printer by adding layer
upon layer of material until the shape of the object is formed. A variety of printing materials,
including plastics, powders, filaments, and paper, can be used to create the object.

Evolution of 3D Printing:
Many individuals are thrilled about the impact that 3D printing will have on the future of
manufacturing, from cost reduction to increased efficiency to spurring innovation. However,
it has already had a significant impact on the industry.

-19

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In the 1980s, 3D printing was just an idea. Hideo Kodama of Japan's Nagoya Municipal
Industrial Research Institute discovered a way to print layers of material to create a 3D
product in 1981. Unfortunately, Kodama's patent for the technology was not approved.

Meanwhile, in France, the French General Electric Company and CILAS, a laser and optical
technology manufacturer, discovered a way to create 3D printed objects. However, the
companies saw no use for the technology and quickly abandoned their discoveries.

Finally, in 1986, an American engineer named Charles Hull developed a prototype for a
technique known as stereolithography (SLA). Hull patented the SLA printer, and other
companies quickly followed. Hull is widely regarded as "the father" of 3D printing.

Companies began experimenting, expanding, and eventually commercialising 3D printing

with the foundation of the technology already in place. Several new 3D printers were
introduced to the market, including the Solidscape® ModelMaker, which deposited wax
materials using an inkjet print head, which was more common in traditional printing. New
processes, such as microcasting and sprayed materials, enabled metals to be used in 3D
printing rather than just plastics. As a result, adoption has been restricted to high-cost, low-
volume product manufacturing. While 3D printing underwent iterative changes and
innovations throughout the early 2000s, 2005 marked the year that 3D printing entered the
mainstream. Many early patents began to expire, and inventors and entrepreneurs rushed to
capitalise.

3D printing began to make headlines because concepts like 3D printed limbs and 3D printed
kidneys were intriguing and potentially powerful. As the cost of 3D printers continued to fall,
demand for the technology increased, and they became more common in homes and
businesses.

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Manufacturers began utilising 3D printing in a variety of ways on the shop floor. Machine
parts could be quickly repaired, and inventory shortages could be easily combated. The
industry generated more than $1 billion in revenue by 2014. However, in addition to the
impressive financial impact of the technology, 3D printing has had an impact on how people
work. Throughout the decades, 3D printing technology has continued to disrupt the
manufacturing industry.

Many manufacturers and engineers stepped up to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in March
2020, and the number of calls to action from the 3D printing community to supply necessary
material and products was unprecedented, according to industry experts.

Market Scenario
The global 3D printing market size is expected to grow from USD 12.6 Billion to USD 34.8
Billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 22.5% during the forecast year.

With rapid advances in material composition, such as the emerging use cases of polymers and
metals, additive manufacturing is transitioning from a prototyping tool to a functional
component of fabrication. New materials, shorter lead times, and innovative finishes are
allowing the technology to be integrated into manufacturing processes while adhering to
standards (FDA, ASTM, and ISO).

Furthermore, the lower prices of additive manufacturing-based machines, as well as growing

expertise and awareness, have increased the availability of this technology. In recent years,
newer and more advanced fused deposition modelling methods have enabled the use of a
wider range of materials, resulting in widespread adoption across a variety of industries.

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Manufacturers brought a greater number of industrial solutions to market, resulting in broader
adoption of 3D printing across sectors.

Furthermore, technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine

learning (ML) are accelerating the adoption of 3D printing devices because these
technologies enable automated printing for efficient production. For example, in November
2019, Additive Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), a UK-based company, introduced its
new Digital Manufacturing Systems. It utilises AMT's proprietary technology to provide a
fully automated and digital solution for the entire manufacturing workflow.

Governments all over the world have already begun to invest in 3D printing R&D, which has
aided in technology dissemination and adoption. For example, the Dutch government
invested an additional USD 150 million in 3D printing research and innovation.

However, as technology advances, additive manufacturing may challenge traditional forms of

Intellectual Property (IP) protection and significantly increase illegal use of printed weapons
and drugs, stifling market growth. Furthermore, the market is constrained by the high costs of
equipment required to achieve significant economies of scale. Furthermore, the market's
standardisation structure is hampered by the absence of an international standards body that
regulates manufacturers.

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Major Players in 3D Printing:
Major Players Outside India:
1. 3D Systems

Since the beginning of the 3D printing business in 1986, 3D Systems has been at the forefront
of advancements in additive manufacturing. Their extensive line-up of hardware, software,
and material solutions, which ranges from plastics to metals, is supported by Applications
Innovation Group's industry-specific engineering know-how. To address the most
challenging design and production issues, they offer a consulting, application-focused
approach. Users may overcome the constraints of traditional manufacturing and make the
most of additive manufacturing thanks to the mix of solutions, knowledge, and innovation.

3D Systems is a company with its headquarters in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and offices,
production sites, and Customer Innovation Centres all over the world.

2. Protolabs Inc.

The quickest digital manufacturing source in the world for on-demand production and rapid
prototyping is Protolabs. The technologically advanced company uses automated 3D printing,
CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and injection moulding procedures to make unique
components and assemblies in as little as one day. The 3D printing service provides a broad
range of materials and technology to produce prototypes and finished components with
intricate geometries. These components are used in industries including medical devices,
electronics, appliances, automotive, and consumer goods. The corporate offices and
production facilities of Protolabs are situated in Maple Plain, Minnesota. The business also
includes production facilities in Japan, Germany, and England.

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 3. Materialise NV

Located in Leuven, Belgium, Materialise NV is a 3D printing and additive manufacturing

business. Wilfried Vancraen and his wife Hilde Ingelaere established Materialise in June
1990 as a Rapid Prototyping service provider. In the Benelux region of Europe, it was the
first business of its sort. For more than 30 years, it has offered 3D printing services and
software solutions to a range of industries, including healthcare, the automotive, aerospace,
consumer goods, and the arts and design.

Major Players in India:

1. THINK3D

In India, THINK3D provides the best 3D printing service available. They can produce
production parts or prototypes for you on demand in as little as a day, depending on what you
need. They serve as a one-stop shop for economical, accurate, precise, custom 3D printed
items. They provide various types of 3D Printing services like Stereolithography (SLA),
Fused Deposition Fabrication (FFF), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Metal Laser
Sintering (DMLS), Polyget Printing, and Multijet fusion. Their customers include L&T, SAP,
Maxcure Hospitals, LG Electronics, ITC Ltd., BHEL and many more.

2. Imaginarium

Imaginarium is a company based out of Mumbai, Maharashtra. They provide all kinds of 3D
printing services like Stereolithography (SLA), Fused Deposition Fabrication (FFF),
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). They provide
consultancy services in additive manufacturing as well and partner with many different

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industries like Automotive, Healthcare, Aerospace, Architecture, Electronics, Foundry,
Jewellery, Packaging, Lifestyle, and Consumer goods. The materials used are nylon polymer,
ceramic powder as well as metal powder. Due to metal powder, Imaginarium a leading
manufacturing partner for Jewellery industry.

Types of 3D Printers:
The phrase "3D printing" refers to a number of manufacturing processes that construct parts
layer by layer. Each has a unique manner of producing plastic and metal parts, as well as
variations in material choice, surface quality, durability, production efficiency, and price.

There are several types of 3D printing, which include:

• Stereolithography (SLA)
• Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
• Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)
• Digital Light Process (DLP)
• Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)
• PolyJet
• Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
• Electron Beam Melting (EBM)

However, most commonly used 3D printing methods are Stereolithography, Selective Laser
Sintering (SLS) and Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)

Stereolithography (SLA):
Chuck Hull introduced the first 3D printing breakthrough in the world in 1986. It functions
by a 3D printing process known as vat polymerization, in which a substance known as a
photopolymer gum is selectively reconstituted by a light source. The original method of
contemporary 3D printing is stereolithography (SLA). SLA printers are the best at producing
fine details, smooth surface finishes, and tight tolerances. SLA parts have decent-looking
surface completions. Basic applications include anatomical modelling and microfluidics, and
it is typically used in the clinical sector. The price starts from $1,200 and goes up to several
hundred thousand dollars for precise applications.

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 Figure 1 Products made using Stereolithography (SLA)

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) aka Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF):

A plastic fibre is ejected onto the forming stage layer by layer in an FDM printer. It's a clever
and effective method for producing real models. There are a few instances when FDM can be
used for practical testing, however the technology is constrained by the parts' often rough
surface finishes and lack of strength. It is a 3D printing invention that makes use of the
Material Extrusion cycle. Devices for material extrusion are widely available and affordable.
A spool of strong thermoplastic fibre (such as PET, ABS, or PLA) is piled into the 3D printer
during a cycle for them to function. It is then forced into a heated spout by an engine, where
it liquefies. The 3D printing material is then kept on a form stage when the printer fibre cools
and cements, forming a sturdy object. At this point, the printer's ejection head travels in
accordance with specific directions. A new layer is laid out by the printer once the previous
one is finished, and so on until the item is finished. Electrical accommodations, construction
and fit testing, jigs and fixtures, and investment casting patterns are some common
applications using FDM. The best thing about FDM is that it offers the best surface finish and
full tone in addition to the fact that it can be used with a variety of materials. Application of
FFF products is generally limited to home use or for visualisation purposes. The price starts
from $1,000.

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 Figure 2 Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)

Figure 3 FDM Products

Specific laser sintering (SLS):

Powders made of nylon come combined with SLS to form durable plastic. SLS parts are
strong, suitable for utility testing, and can support living pivots and snap-fits because they are
made from true thermoplastic material. Parts are more grounded than in SL, but have rougher
surface finishes. SLS is suitable for part amounts higher than other 3D printing techniques
since it doesn't require support structures, allowing the entire form stage to be used to
combine several pieces into a single form. Plans that will eventually be infusion-shaped are
modelled using a variety of SLS elements.

Price of SLS 3D printers ranges from $5,999 to more than $650,000 for industrial
applications.

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 Figure 4 Specific Laser Sintering Process

Figure 5 SLS Products

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Industrial Applications of 3D Printing:
3D printing has found its application in many areas in Industry. The number of businesses
utilising 3D printing has rapidly increased during the course of the technology's development.
Industry-specific variations exist in the applications and use cases, but in general they
comprise tooling aids, visual and functional prototypes, and even end-use parts.

Companies are starting to look for ways to use 3D printing to develop new business models
and opportunities as the technology's potential applications grow.

One of the first industries to embrace 3D printing was the aerospace and defence (A&D)
sector, which first did so in 1989. Three decades later, A&D holds a 16.8% market share of
the $10.4 billion additive manufacturing business and significantly supports ongoing industry
research.

Key industry giants including GE, Airbus, Boeing, Safran, and GKN are largely responsible
for the progress of AM within A&D. These businesses and others have determined the
benefits that 3D printing offers to:

• Functional prototypes
• Tooling
• Lightweight components

Second application is seen in the automotive industry. The use of additive manufacturing in
the automotive industry is expanding; in 2019, global automotive AM revenues were $1.4
billion. According to a SmarTech analysis, revenues related to additive manufacturing in the
production of automobile parts are predicted to reach $5.8 billion by 2025, therefore this
number only appears to rise. Design technologies like generative design and topology
optimization are gradually replacing conventional approaches to part design in fields like
motorsports and performance racing.

Although tooling is currently the primary use case for 3D printing in the automotive sector,
prototyping is still its primary application. Additionally, a promising development for the
industry is that a number of automobile businesses are starting to identify creative end-use
applications for 3D printing.

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 Figure 6 Application of 3D Printing in designing of an automobile

Another great use has been in the industries that want customisation, while maintaining the
margins as that of economies of scale. In traditional manufacturing, we need volume to
increase our margins and thereby reducing the share of cost. But by using additive
manufacturing, manufacturers can offer customisation without thinking about the volume
aspect. Best example is that of Invisalign.

Figure 7 Invisalign braces manufactured using 3D Printing

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Business Models in 3d Printing
3d printing or additive manufacturing offers distinct advantages over traditional
manufacturing processes like machining, welding and metalworking. It’s important to
understand the differences between the two processes from a strategic and operational point
of view to be in position to understand the viability of 3d printing. Some of the advantages
associated with 3d printing are following:

● Traditional manufacturing processes are not flexible enough to accommodate

production of a wide range of products. If a different product is to be produced, say a
screw with square threads instead of v-threads then the cutting tool needs to be
changed on the lathe machine. For more complex changes, new jigs and fixtures
might be needed whose design and manufacturing requires a lot of time and capital
investment. However, in case of 3d printing, one just needs to feed the CAD file of
the component to be manufactured to a 3d printer. Hence, the same 3d printer can be
used to produce a simple shaft to a complicated component like helical gear or entire
gear box without having to make any manual change in machine settings.

● 3-d printing eliminates machine setup cost and time associated with traditional
manufacturing.

● Parts produced by 3-d printing process have defects and are poor in mechanical
properties like strength, ductility, malleability as compared to the parts manufactured
using traditional processes. This shortcoming can be overcome through advancements
in metal powder technology.

● Traditional manufacturing processes have high fixed costs (machine set up cost)
which means the production is economical when the batch size is large.
Manufacturers typically produce a large number of components to reduce the average
cost per unit which also implies there are large inventory costs. In case of 3d printing,
the manufacturers can afford to manufacture in smaller quantities and there are
essentially zero inventory costs as the components can be manufactured when order is
received.

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 ● Material yield in case of 3-d printing is higher than traditional manufacturing. There
are no waste chips in case of 3-d printing as is the case with the machining process.

Based on the above characteristics, one can infer that 3-d manufacturing is useful to make
parts with complex designs easily. This has bode well with industries like medical devices,
aviation and automobiles. General Electric Aviation manufactures fuel nozzles for its
turbofan engines, MTU aero engines manufactures borescope parts for its jet engine, German
company EOS manufactures nasal swabs, orthopedic implants, dental prosthetics,
biocompatible materials and surgical components, Rolls-Royce Phantom, BMW has made
more than 10,000 parts, such as plastic holders for center lock buttons as well as electronic
parking brakes and sockets.

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Business models pertaining to various stakeholders in value chain using 3-d printing could be
classified as following:

Downstream Model:
The downstream users of the technology will be retail customers. It’s possible in the
future that 3-D printers will become affordable and people buy one for their personal
use. Then, people will just need to download the required design file of the product
and print it. This model will of course raise the issues of infringement of intellectual
property rights, how design files can be transferred between two individuals, and the
threat of competitors hacking the system to get hold of designs. Similarly, there might
be 3-d printing shops in the neighborhood where people will go with their files and
get the product printed just like we go to a stationary shop to take a print out.

Upstream Model:
The upstream users of the technology will be suppliers who might be supplying the
components to other vendors for example the ancillary parts manufacturers in the
automobile segment. If the supplier companies have large variation in their products,
then 3-d printing will help them produce the components cheaply. If the volume of
any product is to be increased then the company can use 3-d printing to manufacture
jigs and fixtures for the product and then use traditional manufacturing processes to
produce that product. This way the product can be produced quickly and
economically.

3-d printing will also allow the company to save on its inventory costs. It will just
need to store the file of the component on its computer instead of physically storing
the product.

3-d printing process will also allow the company to set up its manufacturing facility at
strategic locations to reach its customer quickly and also save on the transportation
costs. This will be possible because there’s no need to move the entire plant
consisting of various machinery and raw material to the location. This will help the
company provide better customer service by reaching the customer quickly and

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 provide them with parts which are probably no longer manufactured anywhere.
(Happens frequently with vintage cars, gramophone, television etc)

Trends in 3D Printing
1. Printing Skin
Scientists have been working for over 20 years to develop technology that will allow
them to grow human skin or tissue that can replace it. One of the most common
applications for this type of skin would be transplants for burn victims, accident
victims, people with slow-healing wounds, or people with dermatological issues. It
turns out that 3D printing of human skin, which has made human skin printing
possible, can save the day. This skin type is already changing the cosmetics industry
and reducing the number of cosmetics that are tested on animals.

2. Houses
3D printing applications have become a strong trend in the construction industry,
helping to design the "future house." 3D printed houses are fully functional structures
with electricity, water, telecommunications, and air conditioning. This could be one
approach to meeting the growing demand for small, individual apartments and houses.
A concrete 3D printer prints walls and the entire house layer by layer in a 24-hour
operation. All it requires is the assistance of a few construction workers. Labor costs
are reduced by 50% to 80%, and construction waste is reduced by 30% to 60%. It is
adaptable, can be easily modified or adjusted to meet the needs of the customer, and
takes only 20% of the time to build a comparable conventional house!

3. Inventory Management
By localising production and replacing physically stored inventory with software
files, 3D printing can effectively digitise manufacturing operations. On-demand
iteration of designs is possible. This can give a company more control and agility, as
well as less waste and risk, throughout a product's lifecycle. Critical manufacturing
parts can be printed on-site, and secure digital files can be sent to the appropriate
location. As a result, warehouse footprints and logistics demands are significantly
reduced.

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 4. Automobile Industry
In the automotive industry, complete model makeovers used to happen once every
decade, with a refresh every few years. As automakers rapidly shift to electric
vehicles, the rate of innovation has accelerated, and completely new vehicles are
moving from design to production in much shorter time frames. To keep up, today's
3D-printing systems can produce parts that look and feel nearly identical to the real
thing, right down to Pantone-validated colours, glass appearance, and textures like
leather and wood.

5. 3D Printed Firearms
A 3D printed firearm is one that is made primarily with a 3D printer. They are
classified based on the type of 3D printers used, which can be plastic, metal, or both.
While 3D-printed plastic guns are commonly thought of as a way for legitimate gun
manufacturers to exceed traditional design limitations, Although fully plastic guns are
possible, they are typically extremely short-lived. Instead, printing a plastic frame and
using metal in the action and barrel is more practical. Metal parts can be made by
hand or purchased in the form of a parts kit.

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Reference:
• https://www.aniwaa.com/buyers-guide/3d-printers/the-best-resin-3d-printer-sla-and-
dlp/#:~:text=SLA%203D%20printer%20prices%20depend,reach%20several%20hund
red%20thousand%20dollars.
• https://all3dp.com/1/best-sls-3d-printer-desktop-industrial/
• https://blog.makeros.com/blog/what-is-the-cost-and-how-to-price-for-fdm-fff
• https://amfg.ai/industrial-applications-of-3d-printing-the-ultimate-guide/
• https://www.think3d.in/
• https://imaginarium.io/
• https://www.3dsystems.com/
• https://www.protolabs.com/
• https://www.materialise.com/en
• https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/multimedia/podcasts/additive-
manufacturing-3d-printing-supply-chain-transformation-business.html
• https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/additive-manufacturing-explained
• https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/the-mainstreaming-of-
additive-manufacturing
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companies/
• https://www.bcg.com/publications/2017/lean-manufacturing-industry-4.0-get-ready-
for-industrialized-additive-manufacturing

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