As U.S. manufacturing expands its strategies around 3D printing from prototyping to production, there is a collection of new factors impacting the market. IDTechEx recently examined some of these trends:
- New entrants to the market have been finding ways to work through the challenges of continuously printing carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymers to better serve the aerospace, automotive, and sporting goods sectors.
- Expanded capabilities are also being realized in the use of high temperature, high-performance polymers such as PEEK and Ultem. This has allowed for 3D printed parts to be used in more demanding applications, including motorsports.
- The use of continuous, as opposed to chopped, carbon fiber has increased the strength-to-weight ratio necessary for meeting more rigorous heat resistance specifications. Again, the transportation and aerospace markets have been the primary beneficiaries of these material advancements.
- New composites have also ensured that materials are lighter and stronger, some of which are up to five times lighter than steel and 1.5 times stronger and lighter than aluminum.
- Many of these new materials are also radio transparent, making them suitable for non-conductive elements and insulators.
