We are constantly asked what the latest significant developments in 3D printing are. Therefore we would like to give you an overview of the most important 3D printing trends of the year 2019, which in our opinion have a great impact on the whole 3D printing industry.
1. 3D printing meets artificial intelligence
If there is a megatrend par excellence in the field of technology in our days, then it is of course artificial intelligence (AI) and the applications associated with it. Thereby it is only logical to increasingly merge 3D printing and AI, which means that AI will simplify the 3D design process considerably. In a next step, the 3D printing process itself will be further improved by using AI to detect and correct errors more quickly.
2. more polymer-based 3D materials
After an increase in previous years, especially in the area of 3D-printable metals, the trend in 2019 thereby moves more towards the development of further 3D-printable polymer compounds. Thereby BASF had already made large investments in research and development of 3D printable polymers in 2018, which should not remain without concrete results.
3. even more 3D printing in the automotive sector
In 2019 the trend towards the expansion of 3D printing applications in the automotive sector will continue unabated. Some experts even expect the first fully 3D-printed car to be available this year, and some manufacturers in the automotive industry are now using rapid prototype development for their production. Manufacturers benefit from this above all by developing and printing out their components themselves, thereby saving a great deal of time and money. Thereby delays and costs for suppliers of individual parts are increasingly eliminated.
4. more medical 3D printing
It has been apparent for some years now that 3D printing is becoming increasingly important, especially in the medical sector. So far it was mainly about the additive production of hip joints, prostheses, dentures, etc., thereby it should soon be possible to produce whole organs from the 3D printer. The so-called bioprint could thus still become reality in 2019 with a kidney, or perhaps even already with a heart from the 3D printer. ? Read more about the application possibilities of additive manufacturing in orthopedics
5. improved software
The 3D design software is also continuing to improve, which will further enhance the efficiency of 3D design and as a result the economics of 3D printing. The trend is increasingly moving towards cloud-based solutions. In addition, open source solutions are playing an increasingly important role compared to proprietary offerings, and we believe these 5 developments are the most important for this year. We are eagerly awaiting the results and new possibilities in technology, software and applications in various industries and will be happy to keep you informed.
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