3D printing industry development trend analysis

Short-term trends

1) 3D printing services and impact model of innovation

3D printing industry chain involves many links, including 3D printing equipment manufacturers, the 3D model software suppliers, 3D printing service providers and suppliers of 3D printing materials.So the chain around the 3D printing will create many opportunities.In 3D printing industry chain, in addition to appear big brand manufacturers, is also likely to be based on 3D printing services giant.The following two example of 3D printing service innovation.

Shapeways companies do not sell direct printer, but "the whole value chain" to move through the social network to the line.Users in the site after registration, can put their own product design uploaded to the site, can also purchase the existing 3D design, selection and purchase of raw materials, you can place the order, the company will be printed finished product delivery.In addition, users also can display and sell their products online, and to sell products to others.At present the company has nearly 150000 member platform, more than 6000 designers, June 20, 2012, has for more than 100 3D printing products, is one of the most popular jewelry, iPhone cover and the toy train.

2) 3D printing industry faces many challenges

3D printing technology in China is currently facing many challenges, generally at the primary stage of the industrialization of emerging technology, mainly displays in: one is the scale of the industry level is not high.3D printing is mostly stay in the laboratory of universities and research institutes, enterprises scale is generally small.The second is technology innovation system is not sound.Innovation resources relative to split, standard, test, research and development such as the lack of public service platform, has not yet been established production, with combination of technical innovation system.Three is industry policy system is not yet perfect.A lack of forward-looking, consistency, systemic industrial policy system, including development planning and fiscal and taxation support policy, etc.Four is to strengthen industry management;Five is in urgent need of strengthening education and training system.

Medium-term development trend

In the medium term, complementary with the traditional manufacturing technology.Compared with the traditional mode of production, 3D printing is a significant change, but at the moment and JinZhongQi also don't have the ability to promote the third industrial revolution, also won't be the terminator of traditional manufacturing.The current 3D printing technology in complex components, new product development, and implementation of collaborative manufacturing to more creative advantage, the application of the ideal is in the field of personalized or customized.Therefore, JinZhongQi still can't completely replace the traditional manufacturing technology, should be complementary advantages.

Although 3D printing may revive some developed country manufacturing industry competitiveness, but in the short term is difficult to overturn the traditional manufacturing mode.Reason has 3: it is a 3D printing is a new precision technology and information technology integration, compared to the machine production, not substitute, but parallel and complementary relationship;Second, the 3D printing limited categories of raw materials, decided to print out the vast majority of products;Three highly personalized printing costs, it is difficult to realize the traditional manufacturing mode of mass, low-cost manufacturing.

Long-term trend

Synthesis of 3D printing industry characteristics and current situation of the development of technology, we believe that the future trend of the industry development is the following features:

1) 3D printing personal consumption of strong growth

With the rise of "personal" made in the field of personal consumption, 3D printing industry still is expected to maintain a relatively high growth.Help to pull the personal use of desktop 3D printing equipment requirements;It will also promote the upstream print materials (mainly photosensitive resin and plastic) consumption.

2) 3D printing application degree deepening metal materials

In the field of industrial consumption, due to the continuous development of 3D printing metal materials, as well as the metal itself is widely used in industrial manufacturing.Foresight is expected, primarily in the laser sintering metal molding technology of 3D printing equipment, will be in the future in the field of industrial applications, for the development of relatively quickly.Short or medium term, the application of this field is still concentrated in the product design and manufacturing tools.

3) the division of professional industrial chain will be further deepened

At present, the main 3D printing enterprise general with material supply, equipment manufacture and print services integrated form.This is the industry technology popularization and the limit of the size of the market in the initial period of development.In the long term, the industrial chain of each link can produce professional separation: can appear material suppliers and professional printing enterprise, product design service will be independent or transfer to the downstream consumption enterprises.3D printing is expected to be converted into a real tool platform.