Additive Manufacturing Ecosystem Overview — PART 1

Article Highlights

The Additive Manufacturing (AM) market (a.k.a. 3D Printing) is currently growing at more than 30% yearly [1]. Although most people associate 3D printing to 3D printers, and sometimes stretching its definition to the associated printed materials, it is important to get a general perspective on a 7 segments AM ecosystem to understand their interlaced dynamic, as well as how to navigate them as a member of the “maker” community.

In a multi-parts article, we will aim at providing perspective on the following points:

PART 1: Defining the AM ecosystem segments

PART 2: Ecosystem dynamics and realities: Hardware Manufacturers

PART 3: Ecosystem dynamics and realities: Service Bureaus

PART 4: Ecosystem dynamics and realities: Makers Community

PART 1: Defining the AM ecosystem segments

General applications

We can generalize the applications of Additive Manufacturing (AM) into 3 basic categories [1][2]:

• Personal (general consumer, personal use, education, < $5K printers)
• Professional (office use, prototyping, education & research, tooling, > $5K)
• Industrial (production, casting, patterns, small batches, etc.)

Fig.1: General AM application categories for 3D printers.

Those categories are mainly representing the split between the different types of 3D printers. However, there is much more to the Additive Manufacturing market, as we shall see below.

AM Ecosystem

When we hear 3D printing, we generally associate it to 3D printers. However, the emergence of the AM technologies, generate peripheral market segments; creating an “AM ecosystem” currently experiencing a growth spur of >30% yearly, estimated to reach a market value ranging between $7B and $21B by 2020 [3].

We can define the AM ecosystem segments as follow:

Table.1: AM application segments and associated features

When navigating through the AM ecosystem, either from a personal 3D printing interest, or from a professional need, many find themselves lost in the avalanche of articles, websites, emails, advertising, news, etc. In order to make 3D printing easier, it is important to be aware of a few ecosystem dynamic aspects that might impact you. Getting a perspective on those dynamics, and some related reality checks, might help save a lot of time, and avoid expensive mistakes. Understanding the AM ecosystem dynamics and realities is the first step to transforming 3D printing from an craft-like market, to a structured and technically-driven market benefiting both the businesses and users part of the maker community.

Based on this ecosystem segment structure, let’s now explore in more details the main segments and some of their realities that might impact you in your 3D printing work.

See Part 2 here.

References

[1] Wohlers Report 2015. “State of the Industry Annual Worldwide Progress Report on Additive Manufacturing”. Wohlers Associates, ISBN 978–0–9913332–1–9, p.22–24

[2] Photizo Group Report 2014. “2014 Consumer & Desktop 3D Printer Market Size, Shares, and Forecast”. Photizo Group, http://photizogroup.com/products/2014-consumer-desktop-3d-printer-market-size-shares-forecast

[3] Columbus, Louis. “2015 Roundup Of 3D Printing Market Forecasts And Estimates”. Forbes, Mar 31, 2015, http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2015/03/31/2015-roundup-of-3d-printing-market-forecasts-and-estimates/#4e708e4b1dc6

[4] Fabian, “Top 25: Most Popular 3D Modeling & Design Software for 3D Printing” iMaterialize.com, August 5, 2015 https://i.materialise.com/blog/top-25-most-popular-3d-modeling-design-software-for-3d-printing

[5] “2016–3D Printing Fairs, Conferences & Events List”, 3dprintingforbeginners.com, February 9, 2015 http://3dprintingforbeginners.com/fairs_events/