2. 2 CAD Users See 3D Printing in Their Futures
A
report by research firm Pricewater-
house-Coopers, in conjunction with the
Manufacturing Institute (June 2014), “3D
Printing and the New Shape of Industrial Manu-
facturing,” indicated that the global 3D printing
market is expected to reach $6 billion by 2017 from
$2.2 billion in 2012. Global shipments of printers
costing less than $100,000 were expected to reach
about 98,000 in 2014, roughly twice as many as in
2013. A contributor to growth is America Makes,
an organization aiming to increase the adoption of
3D printing — also known as additive manufactur-
ing — in the United States. The reason for the surge
is clear, according to the group: The technology has
created a revolutionary production method with
efficient use of resources, small-lot production,
rapid manufacturing, agile manufacturing, and
reverse engineering.
In addition to the large-scale
application of 3D printing to rapid
manufacturing applications, the
technology is becoming increasingly
common in the design workflow
for creating prototypes rapidly
and less expensively (compared
with traditional prototyping
methods). For product and machine
design, 3D-printed models can
demonstrate fit, function, and
aesthetic features of parts and even
assemblies, including mechanical
functionality, tactile properties,
color, and more. Architects are
using the technology to create 3D
scale models that communicate
design features to clients in ways
that 2D drawings and even 3D
digital walkthroughs cannot.
To develop a clearer
understanding of perceptions and
experiences of CAD users and their
companies relative to 3D printing,
Cadalyst launched a short survey,
“3D Printing Trends in the CAD
Market” (April 2015), sponsored by Stratasys. The
survey results — which represent 237 respondents
from among Cadalyst’s readership — may enlighten
experienced 3D printing users and newcomers alike:
The technology is in use by, or on the radar of, most
design groups today, and many concerns that might
have impeded adoption in years past are rarely, if at
all, in the picture today.
This whitepaper examines adoption rates of
(and attitudes about) 3D printing in the CAD
community, based on the outcome of the Cadalyst
survey.
EXAMINING THE NUMBERS
In the Cadalyst survey, more than a third of
respondents reported that their organizations are
using 3D printing (27.85% have in-house printers
and another 6.85% use a service bureau). Another
third said their organizations plan to add a 3D
printer in the future (9.6%) or have discussed adding
one to their workflow (22%). Less than 16% have no
plans to consider and/or adopt 3D printing.
The Cadalyst survey results were similar to those
of a second survey of CAD users. In its Worldwide
CAD Trends 2015 Survey (April 2015), which
questioned CAD technicians, designers, engineers,
and other professionals, including managers and
senior executives, the Business Advantage Group
reported, “3D printing is currently used by 22%
of worldwide CAD users and managers.... By the
end of this year, 33% of the users and managers
surveyed are expected to be using 3D printing.”
3D printing use will grow 39% in manufacturing
and 110% in architecture/engineering/construction
(AEC) this year, and use will more than double in
three to five years, the research firm found.
3D Printing Trends in the CAD Market
Where does a 3D printer fit into your workflow?
We have one or more
3D printers in-house
27.9%
We use a service bureau
for 3D printing
6.9%
We plan to
implement a
3D printer
9.6%
We don’t do any 3D printing,
but we have discussed adding it
to our workflow
21.9%
We don’t do
any 3D printing
and haven’t discussed it,
but this could change
down the road.
18.3%
We don’t do any
3D printing and
likely never will
15.5%
Source: Survey of 237 respondents who are Cadalyst readers.
