Automated 3D Printing Market Size

Automated 3D Printing Market Analysis

The Automated 3D Printing Market size is estimated at USD 2.13 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 10.10 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 36.49% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The increasing investments in R&D and growth in the adoption of robotics for industrial automation are expected to propel market growth.

• Over the last few years, 3D printing has constantly experienced a shift from the prototyping and small batches phase to mass production technology with a growing adoption rate across the industries, where the industrial and non-printer vendors have shifted their focus toward automation. Also, with the evolutionary trend for additive manufacturing, hardware growing beyond stand-alone systems that are used for prototyping, tooling, and single-part production to be used as core systems within integrated digital mass production lines is driving the number of opportunities in the emerging lights-out factories.
• Artificial Intelligence and machine learning technologies are finding their way through various applications in the additive manufacturing industry. For instance, researchers from MIT have applied the data-driven nature of machine learning to automate the process of discovering new 3D printing materials. With machine learning, material performance factors, such as toughness and compression strength, were optimized using an algorithm that quickly outperformed conventional methods of 3D printing material formulation. The researchers developed a free, open-source materials optimization platform called AutoOED, allowing other researchers to conduct their material optimization.
• Similarly, in January 2022, a group of organizations from Germany and Canada formed a new collaboration to use 3D printing and AI to automate the process of fixing parts. The Artificial Intelligence Enhancement of Process Sensing for Adaptive Laser Additive Manufacturing (AI-SLAM) project aims to create powerful AI-based software that can run directed energy deposition (DED) 3D printers automatically. To more successfully repair uneven surfaces on damaged components, the software will algorithmically regulate the printing process. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) and a software company BCT are part of the German consortium. In Canada, the work will be overseen by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). McGill University will coordinate the research, and machine learning firm Braintoy will help program the AI models.
• Furthermore, there have been various developments in the market by players to enhance their position in the market. For instance, in April 2021, Mosaic launched Array, an automated 3D printing platform, which loads and unloads materials for its four Element HT printers, starts prints, removes prints, and stores them so that the next prints can begin. The Array is designed for maximum flexibility with its vending machine-style robotic arm that removes prints, places them to the side, and loads a clean bed for the next print, ensuring maximum output.
• In October 2021, 3DQue, a Vancouver-based developer of automation technology for the 3D printing industry, announced the launch of two new Quinly automation kits for the Creality CR-10 and CR-6 SE. Quinly is a virtual 3D printer operator served by a Raspberry Pi, a hardware and software kit capable of running desktop 3D printers on its own. The technology is designed to make 3D printing more scalable by taking manual labor out of the equation. It is primarily aimed at print labs, on-demand manufacturers, educational institutions, and anyone else seeking automated mass part production.
• Additionally, due to the disruption of supply chains and new demands for treatments and materials, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated technological advancements in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and manufacturing sectors. The supply chain shortages have made it hard for medical personnel to get the supplies they need, generating a shortage of personal protection equipment (PPE) and medical devices in hospitals for fighting off the virus. Owing to this, additive manufacturing (AM) (automated 3D printing) has emerged as one remarkable fabrication process because of its accessibility and flexibility to produce complex and monolithic parts or even mechanical systems quickly.