Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the updraftplus domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/vhosts/fabbaloo.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114

Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/vhosts/fabbaloo.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114
Why The Interest In 3D Metal Printing? « Fabbaloo

Why The Interest In 3D Metal Printing?

By on December 18th, 2015 in Ideas

Tags:

We continue to hear growing interest in metal 3D printing. Is there a reason for this? We think so. 

In fact, a recent report from CONTEXT, a market research firm, indicates that sales of metal 3D printing gear rose 45% year over year. 

If you look at the long term pattern here, the interest in metal 3D printing is a continuation of the awareness of 3D printing capability by industry. 

Initially, 3D printing was used solely as a prototyping tool, primarily because the available materials were suitable only as prototypes and not usable for production parts. Many companies created great market advantages for themselves using 3D printing for prototyping. 3D printing, however, was often viewed as a kind of ā€œweakā€ method of making as a result. 

However, some 3D printers are able to 3D print in metal powders, initially from lesser-known companies with limited distribution channels, making it less probable a prospective client would know of their existence. But later, the major 3D printer companies acquired or partnered with metal 3D printer makers, significantly raising the awareness level of 3D metal printing as a concept. 

Now we see companies realizing the metal parts they can obtain from metal 3D printers are quite suitable for use in production roles. In fact, they are able to further leverage 3D printing processes by making parts that might be extremely difficult or impossible to make using other processes. 

Once used by one manufacturer, their competitors will quickly get the idea and have to keep up by instituting their own metal 3D printing capabilities. Thus, we have a small explosion of the technology underway. 

Itā€™s also very good news for the 3D printer manufacturers, as their metal equipment carries a much higher profit margin over their plastic equipment, perhaps due to increasing competition by less expensive plastic 3D printers recently available. 

We believe the interest in 3D metal printing will continue to grow: there are an awful lot of manufacturers out there that still do not make use of the technology. 

Via PRNewsWire

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!