Additive manufacturing: a roadmap toward intellectual and industrial developments

With the rapid evolution of AM technology over the last three decades, AM has transitioned from merely prototyping to the advanced manufacturing of functional components within various industries. The intellectualization and industrialization of the AM process and equipment are identified as potential hindrances to the widespread industrial adoption of AM technology in the future. Each aspect is expounded upon, offering recommendations for potential research and development challenges in AM technologies. This collective effort seeks to establish a pivotal technical foundation for future industrial innovation and entrepreneurship. A significant cornerstone of AM revolves around 3D printing, as it enables the fabrication of intricate components and empowers companies to reduce inventory, manufacture on-demand items, establish localized production setups, and streamline supply chains. The remarkable track record of AM in terms of performance is expected to fuel its rapid growth, as projected in a report foreseeing the AM market generating components and end products worth US$2 trillion by 2030. AM stands as a pivotal paradigm for futuristic production systems, to harness its potential to achieve critical objectives. Presently, AM finds applications in diverse industrial domains, encompassing aerospace, healthcare, and consumer goods. This chapter succinctly explores AM technology, its historical evolution, industrial use cases, encountered challenges, and future prospects. Additionally, case studies showcasing the application of AM are also presented. Given the maturation of this technology, the extensive possibilities of 3D printing, and the strong institutional support, AM is slated to become a dominant technology across multiple sectors in the foreseeable future.