Unveiling the Pivotal Year: A Deep Dive into 3D Printing in 2017 and Your Knowledge Test
The year 2017 marked a truly transformative period for the 3D printing industry, often referred to as additive manufacturing. It was a year characterized by significant market maturation, a surge of innovation, and a clear shift towards industrial-scale applications. This pivotal year saw several established global powerhouses make substantial inroads into the sector, alongside burgeoning startups that secured multi-million dollar investments, signaling a strong belief in the technology’s future. The landscape of additive manufacturing was rapidly evolving, moving beyond mere prototyping to embrace the production of functional, end-use parts across various sectors. The excitement was palpable, driven by technological breakthroughs, particularly in the realm of metal 3D printing, which began to unlock unprecedented possibilities for complex design and material science.
Amidst this backdrop of rapid expansion and groundbreaking developments, 2017 solidified its place as a landmark year. It wasn’t just about new machines or faster prints; it was about a fundamental re-evaluation of how manufacturing could be approached, with 3D printing offering solutions to traditional production bottlenecks. Companies were no longer simply experimenting; they were integrating additive manufacturing into their core strategies. This article delves into the key events and innovations that defined 2017, offering a comprehensive look at the forces that shaped the industry and inviting you to test your knowledge of this critical period with our specially designed quiz.
The Dawn of Industrial Adoption: Giants Enter the Fray
One of the most significant indicators of 3D printing’s growing legitimacy in 2017 was the robust entry of major corporate entities. These weren’t small ventures; these were global industrial titans bringing their immense resources, research capabilities, and market influence to bear on additive manufacturing. Their involvement signaled a shift from niche technology to mainstream industrial tool, fostering greater confidence and accelerating adoption across various sectors.
HP’s Vision: Redefining Polymer 3D Printing
Hewlett-Packard (HP), a name synonymous with innovation in printing technology, made a formidable entry into the 3D printing space prior to and solidifying its presence in 2017. Their Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology, initially launched in 2016, gained significant traction. Unlike traditional FDM or SLA processes, MJF utilized a unique voxel-level control system, enabling the production of parts with superior mechanical properties, finer detail, and significantly faster speeds than many of its contemporaries. HP’s strategy wasn’t just about selling printers; it was about building an entire ecosystem, collaborating with material providers like BASF and Evonik, and establishing a network of production partners. Their focus on speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness positioned MJF as a strong contender for industrial-scale plastic parts manufacturing, challenging existing methods and opening new avenues for mass customization.
GE Additive: A Testament to Metal Additive’s Future
General Electric (GE), an industrial conglomerate with deep roots in aerospace, energy, and healthcare, made an even more resounding statement with the establishment of GE Additive. Building on its 2016 acquisitions of Arcam AB (pioneers in Electron Beam Melting, or EBM) and Concept Laser (leaders in Direct Metal Laser Melting, or DMLM), GE Additive quickly became a powerhouse. In 2017, they were actively integrating these technologies, investing heavily in R&D, and pushing for the certification of additive manufactured components in highly regulated industries like aerospace. GE’s commitment was not merely strategic; it was existential. They aimed to transform their own supply chains, producing complex parts for jet engines and gas turbines with reduced weight, improved performance, and fewer assembly steps. Their aggressive pursuit of additive manufacturing underscored the technology’s readiness for critical, high-performance applications.
Metal 3D Printing Takes Center Stage: The New Frontier
While polymer 3D printing continued its evolution, 2017 was undeniably the year that metal 3D printing truly captured the industry’s imagination and investment. The ability to produce strong, lightweight, and complex metal components directly from a digital design had long been the holy grail of additive manufacturing. In 2017, a new generation of companies emerged, promising to democratize metal 3D printing, making it more accessible and affordable for a wider range of businesses. This shift was critical, moving metal additive manufacturing from specialized research labs into mainstream industrial applications.
Desktop Metal: Bringing Metal 3D Printing to the Office
Desktop Metal was a prime example of this new wave. Having launched their Studio System and Production System in 2017, they aimed to address two distinct market segments. The Studio System was designed to be an office-friendly, accessible solution for prototyping and low-volume production of metal parts, eliminating the need for complex infrastructure or specialized personnel. It utilized Bound Metal Deposition (BMD) technology, a process similar to FDM for plastics, followed by debinding and sintering. The Production System, on the other hand, targeted high-volume manufacturing with its Single Pass Jetting (SPJ) technology, promising speeds significantly faster than traditional laser-based metal systems. Desktop Metal’s bold vision and innovative approach garnered substantial investment, positioning them as a leader in making metal 3D printing scalable and practical for a broader industrial base.
Markforged: Strength and Accessibility with ADAM
Markforged, another prominent startup, also made significant strides in 2017 with their Metal X system. Building on their success with continuous fiber composite 3D printing, Markforged introduced Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM). This process, much like Desktop Metal’s BMD, involved printing metal powder bound in a plastic matrix, followed by debinding and sintering. The Metal X was lauded for its ability to produce high-strength metal parts with exceptional detail and surface finish, making it suitable for functional prototypes, tooling, and even end-use parts in demanding applications. Markforged’s focus on user-friendliness and integrated software solutions further lowered the barrier to entry for businesses looking to adopt metal additive manufacturing, making advanced fabrication more approachable than ever before.
The multi-million dollar investments secured by companies like Desktop Metal and Markforged were a clear testament to the market’s confidence in metal 3D printing’s disruptive potential. Investors recognized that these technologies were not just incremental improvements but represented fundamental shifts in how metal parts could be designed and produced, promising significant advantages in terms of cost, speed, and design freedom.
Beyond Metals: Broader Trends and Innovations in 2017
While metal 3D printing dominated headlines, the broader additive manufacturing landscape in 2017 was also characterized by a plethora of other advancements. The industry was maturing on multiple fronts, leading to a more robust, reliable, and versatile ecosystem for manufacturers.
Material Science: Expanding the Palette
Beyond metals, there was a continuous push in material science for polymers, composites, and ceramics. New engineering-grade plastics with enhanced mechanical properties, heat resistance, and chemical inertness became available, expanding the applications for FDM, SLA, and SLS technologies. The integration of continuous fibers (like carbon fiber and fiberglass) into thermoplastic matrices, pioneered by companies such as Markforged, allowed for the creation of parts with exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, bridging the gap between plastics and metals for certain applications. These material innovations were crucial for enabling 3D printing to move from prototyping to the production of high-performance, functional components.
Software and Workflow Integration: The Digital Backbone
The year 2017 also saw significant improvements in the software ecosystem surrounding 3D printing. Design software became more sophisticated, offering advanced generative design capabilities and topology optimization tools that fully leveraged the design freedom of additive manufacturing. Slicing and build preparation software became more intelligent, reducing errors and improving print success rates. Furthermore, there was a growing emphasis on integrating 3D printing workflows into existing manufacturing execution systems (MES) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, paving the way for more seamless digital manufacturing processes. Automation in post-processing, often a bottleneck, also saw early developments, aiming to streamline the entire production chain.
Expanding Applications and Market Growth
The applications of 3D printing continued to diversify and deepen in 2017. In the automotive industry, manufacturers used additive techniques not just for rapid prototyping but also for tooling, jigs, fixtures, and even specialized end-use components for high-performance vehicles. The medical sector saw further advancements in patient-specific implants, surgical guides, and prosthetics, leveraging the technology’s customization capabilities. Aerospace continued to be a major driver, with increasing numbers of flight-certified 3D printed parts. From consumer goods to construction, the versatility of 3D printing was demonstrated across an ever-widening spectrum, hinting at a future where localized and on-demand manufacturing could become the norm.
Market analyses from 2017 consistently projected strong growth for the additive manufacturing industry, forecasting continued expansion into the double digits for years to come. This optimism was fueled by the significant investments, technological advancements, and increasing adoption rates across diverse industrial sectors. The shift from a niche technology to a mainstream industrial process was well underway, positioning 3D printing as a crucial pillar of Industry 4.0.
Test Your Expertise: The 2017 3D Printing Quiz
Given the momentous changes and rapid innovations that characterized 2017, understanding the nuances of this period is essential for anyone following the trajectory of additive manufacturing. It was a year that truly set the stage for the industrialization of 3D printing and laid the groundwork for many of the advancements we see today. From the strategic moves of industry behemoths like HP and GE to the groundbreaking technologies introduced by startups like Desktop Metal and Markforged, 2017 was packed with developments that reshaped the industry’s future.
So, how well do you recall the pivotal events and technological breakthroughs of 2017 in the world of 3D printing? Do you remember the key players, their groundbreaking technologies, and the overall market shifts? We’ve meticulously crafted our 3D printing quiz to challenge your knowledge of this critical year. Take our test and find out just how much of an expert you are on 2017’s additive manufacturing landscape. Once you’ve completed the quiz, don’t hesitate to share your results! Tweet your scores and tag us to proudly demonstrate your expertise in all things 3D printing from that landmark year!
3D Printing Quiz of 2017
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Did you manage to achieve a perfect score? Or perhaps you learned something new about this dynamic year in 3D printing? We’d love to hear about your experience and your results! Feel free to share your thoughts in a comment below, or engage with us on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Stay ahead of the curve and never miss out on the latest advancements and news in additive manufacturing by signing up for our free weekly Newsletter here – delivered straight to your inbox!