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Additive Manufacturing Has Finally Come of Age

In 1987, the first form of additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, was commercialized and brought to market. The technology was hailed as a game-changer but slow to catch on because support elements, such as materials, software and robotics, weren’t fully realized. This forced most manufacturers to limit AM to prototyping applications. Today, it’s a different story.

	THE FUTURE OF 3D PRINTING - Moving Beyond Prototyping
	3D Printing is offering you better ways to build products and components.

	A Breakthrough Metal Printer
	MarkForged and SOLIDWORKS are working together to bring carbon fiber and metal 3D Printers into the mainstream. Watch to See How

Unique Application? There’s a Printer for That.		Which 3D Printer is Right for Your Application? Learn the differences between the types of additive manufacturing technologies to find the right one for your application.
With patents expiring and IP barriers tumbling down, new entrants into the industry are causing an explosion in popularity and dropping prices for 3D printing machines. As new possibilities and opportunities are sought and realized—particularly in the metal applications like aircraft-grade titanium—new 3D printers are being developed that use different methods and materials to manufacture faster and more reliably.

	A Changing Workforce
	Greater access to 3D printing as well as its added benefits is convincing the next generation of product designers and engineers, in industries ranging from aerospace to education, to pursue additive manufacturing as a career . As this new group begins to make its way into the workforce, manufacturers and managers are revisiting more than just training initiatives, but their entire approach to applying 3D printing in the product development process.

	Advancing 3D Printing Technology with SOLIDWORKS
	Learn how Netherlands-based, IF-Adamas has been able to decrease their time-to-market and drastically reduce their material use.

	A New Generation of Manufacturing
	3D printing is the choice of a new generation and manufacturers and industries are prepping for the shift.

At the End of the Day, Good Design Still Matters

Like traditional manufacturing techniques, good design is the key to avoiding mistakes in production. Support structures, warping and distortion, unprintable features — all are key considerations. If not properly accounted for, they can ruin a component before it’s even off the printer,and when working with special materials, like aircraft-grade titanium, this can prove very costly.

Best Practices for 3D Printing with SOLIDWORKS	24:29
These tips will save you time and ensure every design is 3D printing ready.

Designing For Additive Manufacturing Technologies
Like traditional manufacturing, designing parts correctly is the best way to ensure a perfect part.

Related Resources

Interested in further information? Check out these case studies and blog posts to learn more.

	Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing and Subtractive Manufacturing: What’s the Difference?		IF-Adamas – Advancing 3D Printing Technology with SOLIDWORKS
	SOLIDWORKS 2017: 3D Printing as Easy as 2D Printing		SOLIDWORKS Role in 3D Printing: How “a RELENTLESS Focus on User Experience” Drives an Industry
	How Do You Use 3D Printing?		New Partner Integration Makes Customized 3D Printing Inside of SOLIDWORKS Easy
	3D Printing and Injection Molding: Dynamic Duo Cuts Tooling Costs, Speeds Time to Market