What Are the Major Post-Processing Challenges in 2021?

Post-processing solutions manufacturer PostProcess Technologies has released the third edition of its Annual Additive Post-Printing Survey: Trends Report 2021. This year’s report confirms what was already announced last year, namely the desire to shorten this time-consuming step, to improve the quality of finished parts and to allow operators to focus on higher value-added tasks. Overall, users of additive manufacturing want to automate the various post-processing steps as much as possible, especially when it comes to mass production.

This year, the number of participants in the study doubled, demonstrating the growing interest in additive manufacturing among users. Another 50% of respondents are fully aware of the methods used in their companies, a new sign of interest. The PostProcess Technologies study focuses on post-processing trends according to the 3D printing processes chosen by the participating companies; not surprisingly, fused deposition modeling (FDM), photopolymerization and selective laser sintering (SLS) are among the top three, followed by MultiJet Fusion and material jetting. Each process has its own specific constraints, of course – something to keep in mind throughout this study.

Post-processing techniques depend on the technology used and the final application (photo credits: Nikko Industries)

Current Post-Processing Techniques

As there are many additive manufacturing processes, so too are there post-processing methods: removal of supports, excess materials, surface finishing, polishing, heat treatment, etc. Depending on the final application of the 3D printed part and the process used, the post-processing will be more or less long and complicated. And this year, the most used methods are similar to the previous years: printing support removal for 82% of the participants, surface finishing for 67%, resin removal for 45% and powder removal for 44%. These results are hardly surprising when you consider the 3D printing technologies most commonly used today.