April , 2021 | The Health

Source : Wohlers Associates Inc .

This off-set programme was the result of the FA-18 purchase by the government . SIRIM through this technology transfer , was able to set up a Rapid Prototyping facility , what is now known as 3D printing facility , possibly the very first in Malaysia in 1996 . The technology transfer was facilitated by McDonell Douglas , the manufacturer of FA-18 , and SIRIM acquired the Stereo-Lithography Machine ( SLA 250 ) in 1996 .

Things have rapidly progressed from 1996 to 2020 , where applications and the technology itself has evolved and the cost of these machines has dropped drastically where even a hobbyist is able to own one . But before we go further , the definition of AM , Rapid Prototyping or 3D printing should be established . The ASTM International Committee F42 on Additive Manufacturing Technologies defines AM as the process of joining materials to make objects from 3D digital model data , usually layer upon layer , as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methods .

Subtractive Manufacturing

• Subtractive Manufacturing – Milling , Turning , Drilling , Cutting , Grinding

Additive Manufacturing

• Additive Manufacturing – Generating a form layer by layer in metal , polymers , send or other materials

The definition also covers additive fabrication , additive processes , additive techniques , additive layer manufacturing , and rapid prototyping . The definition is best described graphically as shown above .

Digital design to physical object

In its earliest applications , in the 90 ’ s , AM technology or better known at that time as Rapid Prototyping , made tremendous impact on industrial product development , where 3D Models were made for the main purpose of communication . This communication took many forms , and the most suitable form was determined by the application . Historically , two-dimensional drawings have been the communication medium for product engineering and design , but they are not a good solution for initial product familiarisation . A physical 3D model is far better for establishing proportionality , perspective and size of a product . However , the AM technology influence did not stop there . Colleges and universities are now using it in unique ways to conduct research in better and less-expensive ways .

Artisans and sculptors are finding that these technologies free them from the constraints of the production process . AM is also being applied to the creation of tooling , drill guides , and manufacturing assembly aids , as well as sellable , production-quality parts .

Awareness of the benefits of additive manufacturing has spread from one industry to the next , and even to many consumers . Innovation in the applications of additive manufacturing has broadened as well . It would seem that there are as many uses for the technology as there are users . And with computer-aided design software becoming easier to use and less expensive , the number of users has been expanding rapidly .

From Digital Design to Physical Object

AM leading users

A comparison between two early surveys conducted in 2008 and 2016 by Wohlers Associates Inc , where each AM producing company was asked to indicate which industries they serve and the approximate revenues ( as a percentage ) that they receive from each . The following pie charts for 2008 and 2016 were developed . In 2008 , Consumer products and electronics ( 20.8 per cent ) was the leading sector . This was followed by Motor Vehicles ( 16.8 per cent ) and the Medical and Dental sector ( 15.2 per cent ). The Academic Institutions , an educational sector , showed a surprising jump from 8.6 per cent ( 2007 ) to 12.1 per cent in the year 2008 . This was attributed to the increase in interest in the field Research and Development of Additive Manufacturing ( Wohlers Report 2008 )

Looking at the Wohlers data in 2016 data : the top five industrial users remain the same over this 8-year period : Industrial / Business Machines ( 20 per cent ), Aerospace

BY VICTOR DEVADASS

Source : Consultancy uk analysis , data from A . T . Kearney , Wohlers Report , Credit Suisse and Smart Tech Markets

Source : Wohlers Associates Inc 2016

( 17 per cent ), Motor Vehicles ( 14 per cent ), Consumer Products / Electronics ( 13 per cent ), Medical / Dental ( 12 per cent ). This is further substantiated from the global market analysis for 3D printing in 2014 , shown below , that the medical sector is rated as the third largest .

For the future , 2020 onwards , the information from an online virtual conference Formnext 2020 , which just concluded in Europe , drew a reference to the market attractiveness for AM , measured in terms of Market Potential and Technology Potential in the coming years . It is interesting to know that the Medical and Dental Sectors stand out from the rest of the sectors in terms of market potential for the future .

Reference : Formnext 2020 Discover 3D Printing

Aerospace , Medical and Industrial will be an attractive target for AM due to comparatively high margins , high component complexity and individuality as well as high performance requirements ie . lightweight , efficiency and biocompatibility etc .

Energy and Consumer comprise several attractive applications due to high specific requirement either regrading performance and repair or individuality .

Automotive sector despite high technological potential , has only limited market attractiveness , mostly due to high production volumes , low margins and high levels of standardisation .

AM is an emerging technology that is continuously evolving through constant innovation and improvements . The German conglomerate , Siemens feels that although AM is not likely to replace conventional production methods , it is , however , expected to revolutionise many niche areas and its exponential growth is predicted to be on the horizon ( Siemens , 2016 ). This predication is not too far-fetched considering that the AM industry grew by 25.9 per cent ( CAGR – Compound Annual Growth Rate ) to $ 5.165 billion in 2015 ( Wohlers , Caffrey , & Campbell , 2016 ). Currently , the technology is already showing signs of promising applications in developing economies in sectors as diverse as medical to aerospace , remanufacturing and the automotive industry ( Hopkinson , Hague , & Dickens , 2005 ) ( Wohlers , 2013 ). — The Health

Victor Devadass is a Consultant in 3D printing for medical applications .