Additive manufacturing was boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic but faces additional issues to increasing AM in manufacturing.
Those were among the conclusions from a webinar today featuring speakers familiar with issues related to 3D printing.
COVID-19 prompted plant and business shutdowns in the first half of 2020. Supply chain issues surfaced, some of which linger now.
Speakers at the webinar said that spurred manufacturers to re-examine additive manufacturing, including its ability to produce parts close to a customer.
“The pandemic is accelerating what’s happening” with 3D printing, said Matt Torosian, director of product management for Jabil. 3D printing, he said, is “having an option that’s close and fast. We have a solution, we need to deploy it better.”
Stephen LaMarca, technology analyst with AMT -- the Association for Manufacturing Technology, said “big points of turmoil” can advance tech and that happened with additive manufacturing and the pandemic.
LaMarca also said AM should no longer be considered an emerging technology. “It has emerged,” he said. “We need to get it integrated.”
Additive has been embraced in such sectors as robotics, automation and aerospace, speakers said.
AM may spread more as manufacturers design more parts to advantage of 3D printing.
“There are designs that are possible only to be made with additive,” said Nadav Goshen, CEO of 3D printing company UltiMaker. “The driver will be users wanting something better than before.”
Designing parts for AM is “a big leap,” Torosian said. “It’s a whole different thought process.”
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