3D printing is a process by which 3D objects can be produced using3D printers. Also called as Additive Manufacturing, 3D printing builds objects by stacking successive layers of raw materials. These raw materials can be anything from polymers to metal to even plastic or wax. A CAD software controls the whole process - from creating virtual 3D models with the technical specifications. On the instructions of the software, the 3D printer then slices the virtual model layer by layer and creates the final object. When they were introduced first in the 1980's, 3D Printers were thought of as being useful only for producing small, decorative trinkets and uncomplicated objects. However, improvements in technology allowed 3D printers to print objects with intricate details extremely precisely. At the same time, the time to produce a prototype, which was a deterrent earlier, has come down drastically. Both these enhancements have made 3D printers important production tools. Today, 3D printers have been adapted by varied sectorslike the industrial, aerospace, defence and the medical in India and other countries. Indeed, a 3D printer today can produce anything from a small trinket to a big house and simple objects to intricate but lightweight, precise aeroplane parts. There are certain objects that cannot be easily manufactured by any other process except by 3D printers. Objects that consist of several moving parts that are intermeshed or are interpenetrating cannot be manufactured easily by any other process except 3D printing. The same holds true for bone implants.Indeed, in India and elsewhere, people are finding newer and newer uses for 3D printers.
3D printers are based on different technologies like Stereolithography(SLA), Digital Light Processing(DLP), fused deposition modeling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective laser melting (SLM), and a few others. Each technology has its advantages and limitations; it is important for customers to choose a 3D printer that suits their requirements.
3D Printers and 3D Printing in India
In 2016, the global value of 3D Printers and allied services reached $5.8 billion (about Rs. 406 billion). While USA and Europe lead the revenue share, India and Asia in general are catching up fast.The 3D printing market is India is growing almost 20% annually and is forecasted to reach Rs. 500 croresby the year 2022.
Industry in India is leveraging 3D Printers fast, but there is still a vast potential for growth. Not only industries, but healthcare industries and even fashion designers have started to use 3D Printers. Starting with first tier cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune, the demand for 3D printers in India is beginning to pick up. The automobile sector in India was one of the first to embrace 3D printers and 3D printing. Since 3D printing helps industries innovate better, there has been a gradual shift from conventional manufacturing techniques to newer and better 3D printing technologies. Market leaders like Stratasys and others have taken an initiative in promoting 3D printers and 3D printing in India.
Automobile: One of the industries that latched onto 3D printing early on in India was the automobile industry. As India has become a manufacturing hub from auto companies from around the world, this was one of the sectors to adapt 3d printing in India. Today, Indian auto manufacturers use 3D printing for quick, in-house prototyping of spares and for exploring new materials.
Electronics: Circuit boards and electronic parts can be 3D printed. The Indian electronics industry is also experimenting with better design of equipment, and 3D printers play a crucial role in the development. It is expected that in India, enhanced 3D printing may eventually enable manufacturing of end-use parts and thus offer unit-level customization with local manufacturing. Further, these 3D prototypes will have the advantage of being embedded within more appropriate shapes in order to authentically prototype products earlier in the development cycle.
Aerospace: 3D Printers have proven to be extremely beneficial in aerospace engineering. 3D printers allow experimenting with lighter, sturdier plane parts that reduce fuel costs. High end 3D printers also allow printing of complex parts. NASA, USA has already successfully tested 3D printed parts for its satellites. ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) has successfully launched India’s first 3D printed satellite called Kalamsat-V2. This 3D printed satellite has been designed by students in India.
Defence: One more sector in India that has benefited from 3D printing technology is the defence sector. 3D printers provide new ways that allow faster product development as they reduce the time that was traditionally required to do so. 3D printing also allows R&D organizations in India to explore new design engineering possibilities.
Healthcare: Healthcare in India is growing at a fast pace, and is a prime candidate to benefit from 3D printing technology. 3D printers make it possible to create prosthetic body parts, dental implants, etc. As the choice of 3D printing material increases, this field is poised to witness a phenomenal growth. It is expected that 3D printers will make human organ transplants possible as well produce better surgical tools at a lower cost. 3D printers also help surgeons plan mock surgeries using a model in hand. This helps them refine their approach to surgery. Leading 3D manufacturers have already introduced specialty 3D printers as well that are exclusively meant for dentists, and their demand is picking momentum in India.
While these are the major sectors in India that use 3D Printers, there are other specializedfields where it is used as well.
3D Printers and Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is the new paradigm. India is not lagging behind in its Western and Asian counterparts in embracing this new paradigm, which is revolutionizing the way businesses are run. 3D Printers are an integral part of Industry 4.0. Proper integration of 3D printers will ensure that industries in India can alleviate supply chain constraints, limit warehouse space and reduce wasted materials. As 3D printing technology advances, value chains are evolving to meet the growing and diverging needs of the rapidly developing markets. Currently, most 3D printing installations function on a stand-alone basis. When Indian industries fully ingrain Industry 4.0 principles, 3D printers will be seamlessly integrated into the overall manufacturing environment and workflow. Once that happens, 3D printing will achieve its potential of transforming product design and manufacturing processes. In turn, it will also benefit the structure of value chains and the marketplace.
3D Printing in India – the Challenges
The benefits of adopting 3D printing technologies are manifold. However, there are typical problems that industries in India face. The first and foremost is the cost. While entry level 3D printers are relatively inexpensive, the cutting edge, high end 3D printers in India do not come cheap. However, as technology progresses and more and more people adopt 3D printing, the prices are set to come down. The second important constraint is the speed of printing prototypes. Again, rapid progress in technology has enabled 3D printers to increase the output speed. One other constraint, when they were introduced in India, was the bulky size of the 3D printers. High end 3D printers could easily occupy a complete room; today’s 3D printers are sleek and can easily sit on a desktop.
There is a flip side to every technology, and 3D Printers are not an exception. One of the biggest challenges 3D printing companies in India face is the lack of awareness and utility of 3D Printers. Yes, there is a 'wow' factor attached to 3D printers and 3D printing, but it does not necessarily translate to a sale. Manufacturers in India are still wary of investing in 3D printers. However, it is expected that as awareness of the benefits of using 3D printers increase, Indian manufacturers will invest in 3D printers. No progressive economy today can afford to miss out on industry 4.0 technology or the benefits of 3D printing. The government of India too needs to proactively encourage the use of 3D printing to boost productivity.
Compared to the global 3D printing market, Indian market is relatively young; however, the growth has been quite encouraging especially due to the rise of new start-ups and global company operations in India.
Availability of 3D Printers in India
There are three distinct segments that cater to the 3D printing market in India. The first and the foremost are the high end, world leader 3D printer manufacturers. These printers are in demand where there is a need for precision and quality. India is a huge market, and all the world leaders in 3D printers have authorized distributors / resellers / representatives in India. The second category of 3D printers is the locally made printers. One obvious advantage they have is the cost, since many of the parts are manufactured locally in India. The third category is printers imported from countries where manufacturing cost is low. Each category of 3D printers in India has its share of buyers and sellers. In general, industries that demand precision usually go for the printers manufactured in U.S and Europe, while hobbyists and SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) prefer the low cost alternatives.