Innovation, Applications and Impacts of 3D Printing
Aryal, Sujal (2025)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025112128911
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025112128911
Tiivistelmä
Three-dimensional printing (3DP), also termed as additive manufacturing technology, is an emerging technology that has gained huge attention in recent years as an innovation with the potential to transform conventional methods of manufacturing. This study primarily aims to investigate the current applications of 3D printing across a range of sectors including healthcare, construction, education, manufacturing and dentistry. In addition to identifying areas where the technology is already being implemented, it also seeks to find the factors why certain industries have not yet fully adopted the technology despite the high expectations. Existing research has shown that 3D printing facilitates innovation, enables the creation of complicated designs, shortens the production time and promotes sustainability through reduced material waste. Accordingly, this thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of 3D printing and to explore implications and prospective developments in the near future.
The analysis reveals that the healthcare industry has come forth as the sector with the most mature adoption process with respect to 3D printing. The medical sector uses 3D printing to manufacture customised implants, prosthetics, surgical models, and unique medical devices. The delay in adoption in sectors such as education, construction, appliance manufacturing, and automotive manufacturing can be attributed to the economic constraints that this technology faces with respect to widespread adoption. In other words, these sectors understand the applications that 3D printing has to offer with respect to design variability and reduced wastage. In all industries surveyed, there was emphasis on key advantages. The technology enables rapid prototyping without necessarily depending on other manufacturing tools. The ability to produce on demand cuts down storage costs as well as need for inventory. Other factors that survey respondents highlighted include the role that additive manufacturing does in making sustainability possible in that one uses only the amount needed to form each layer. As such, 3D printing has proven beneficial in conjunction with traditional manufacturing processes.
Nevertheless, the results also indicate disadvantages. Industrial printers and materials are still too costly, making this technology unaffordable for smaller companies. High energy use adds to production costs and potentially counterbalances any benefits to the environment if non-renewable energy is involved. Though the data set presented to this research was relatively small, it correlates with international data that has found the healthcare sector to be one of the most innovative sectors utilising 3D printing technology. It is clear that there is enormous potential here to improve efficiency and sustainability but that it is still in its infancy stages in terms of its development. In order to more fully integrate this technology, there needs to be investment to reduce the cost of the technology and establishment of training initiatives to develop the technical know-how. With the implementation of these measures, future manufacturing processes are expected to become more efficient, flexible and environmentally friendly. As access to 3D printing technology becomes affordable and user-friendly, it is likely to play a bigger role in everyday production processes.
The analysis reveals that the healthcare industry has come forth as the sector with the most mature adoption process with respect to 3D printing. The medical sector uses 3D printing to manufacture customised implants, prosthetics, surgical models, and unique medical devices. The delay in adoption in sectors such as education, construction, appliance manufacturing, and automotive manufacturing can be attributed to the economic constraints that this technology faces with respect to widespread adoption. In other words, these sectors understand the applications that 3D printing has to offer with respect to design variability and reduced wastage. In all industries surveyed, there was emphasis on key advantages. The technology enables rapid prototyping without necessarily depending on other manufacturing tools. The ability to produce on demand cuts down storage costs as well as need for inventory. Other factors that survey respondents highlighted include the role that additive manufacturing does in making sustainability possible in that one uses only the amount needed to form each layer. As such, 3D printing has proven beneficial in conjunction with traditional manufacturing processes.
Nevertheless, the results also indicate disadvantages. Industrial printers and materials are still too costly, making this technology unaffordable for smaller companies. High energy use adds to production costs and potentially counterbalances any benefits to the environment if non-renewable energy is involved. Though the data set presented to this research was relatively small, it correlates with international data that has found the healthcare sector to be one of the most innovative sectors utilising 3D printing technology. It is clear that there is enormous potential here to improve efficiency and sustainability but that it is still in its infancy stages in terms of its development. In order to more fully integrate this technology, there needs to be investment to reduce the cost of the technology and establishment of training initiatives to develop the technical know-how. With the implementation of these measures, future manufacturing processes are expected to become more efficient, flexible and environmentally friendly. As access to 3D printing technology becomes affordable and user-friendly, it is likely to play a bigger role in everyday production processes.