{"id":16163,"date":"2021-01-05T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T17:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/?p=16163"},"modified":"2021-11-30T07:18:27","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T15:18:27","slug":"3d-printing-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/3d-printing-future\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does the Future of 3D Printing Look Like?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>3D printing has come a long way from the early days of desktop figurines. As technology continues to evolve, the future is brighter than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Brand-Portrait-SF-1170-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"woman-3d-printing-additive manufacturing\" class=\"wp-image-16164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Brand-Portrait-SF-1170-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Brand-Portrait-SF-1170-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Brand-Portrait-SF-1170-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Brand-Portrait-SF-1170-1536x1026.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once a novelty pipe dream but now an established technology, 3D printing (or additive manufacturing) is positioned for real, important growth. Remember the early days of 3D printing? We shared a collective excitement for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stlfinder.com\/3dmodels\/brooklyn-bridge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">model versions of the Brooklyn Bridge<\/a> and iconic cartoon characters to adorn our desks. Now, 3D printing is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/how-3d-printing-is-revolutionizing-the-medical-industry\/\">tackling much larger issues<\/a> and solving complex problems across industries of varying scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The basis of 3D printing \u2014 also called additive manufacturing \u2014 is adding layers of materials compounded to make an object. Where cutting and soldering were once required, additive manufacturing gracefully adds layers to build the same type of structures. However, these results are stronger, lighter, more temperature resistant, and require fewer parts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"applications-showcasing-what-the-future-holds-for-3d-printing\">Applications Showcasing What the Future Holds for 3D Printing<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>While there are endless examples of 3D printing being used for incredible things, here are a few examples of what the future holds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>3D printers have long been able to print rocket-shaped objects, but now companies in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/aerospace-engineering\/\">aerospace industry<\/a> are actually printing rockets. Companies like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocket.com\/innovation\/additive-manufacturing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Aerojet Rocketdyne<\/a> are using additive manufacturing for rocket engine and defense system applications. These companies cite reduced lead times, affordability, and new approaches to design as factors in the decision to use additive manufacturing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/additive-manufacturing-industrial-aerospace\/\">deliver hypersonic flight<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/how-3d-printing-is-revolutionizing-the-medical-industry\/\">healthcare<\/a>, additive manufacturing is also making grand promises. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsystems.com\/\">3D Systems<\/a>, in partnership with CollPlant, is working on printing artificial tissues and scaffolds, advancing regenerative medicine through the use of rhCollagen as a 3D printing substrate.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/tarform-a-new-breed-of-electric-motorcycles\/\">electric vehicle<\/a> industry is a similar story. <a href=\"https:\/\/lmindustries.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Local Motors Industries<\/a>, a company with only 130 employees, has already printed a 3D car that has since been discontinued. Now, they\u2019re printing an urban electric shuttle, citing digital design advancements as a contributing factor.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"at-the-forefront-of-evolving-technology\">At the Forefront of Evolving Technology<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8256\" height=\"5504\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/additive.jpg\" alt=\"additive-final-print-process-generative design\" class=\"wp-image-16515\"\/><figcaption>A generatively designed color part from the HP MJF 580 3d printer at the Autodesk Technology Center in Toronto.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts predict the largest industry leaps will happen in the technology facilitating additive manufacturing. Printers will likely become even faster, meaning they\u2019ll be able to work on larger, industrial types of projects. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/marcoannunziata\/2019\/12\/17\/2020-the-year-ahead-in-3d-printing\/#54f7f5fe407f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Forbes<\/a> also reports that <a href=\"http:\/\/meldmanufacturing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MELD Manufacturing<\/a> has designed machines that allow additive manufacturing in uncontrolled environments, which means they can operate in the field. As a result, they\u2019re more useful in remote areas and enable a greater variety of 3D printed structures.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3D printing seeks to address efficiency problems throughout supply chains as well. Nora Toure, Founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/womenin3dprinting.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Women in 3D Printing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/3dprintingindustry.com\/news\/100-3d-printing-experts-predict-the-future-of-3d-printing-in-2030-167623\/\">writes<\/a>, \u201cI predict there will be a countless number of companies that have adopted additive manufacturing into their supply chain commercially with a vast majority of products to be produced on-demand and locally (not necessarily through additive manufacturing, but more as a combination of manufacturing tools, including additive manufacturing).\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3D printers will also add versatility in other ways \u2014 using different materials, including metal and even ceramics, even within the same machine. Printers will be able to print one object containing multiple materials, paving the way for a significantly widened field of use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"autodesk-fusion-360-and-additive-manufacturing\">Autodesk Fusion 360 and Additive Manufacturing<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Integrated CAD + CAM software like Autodesk <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/campaigns\/fusion-360\/dream-to-done\">Fusion 360<\/a> will enable additive manufacturing to soar to entirely new levels. The Fusion 360 team is constantly thinking of ways to improve and enhance the additive manufacturing process. We recently announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/unlocking-better-additive-manufacturing-outcomes-generative-design\/\">a new method for generating additive manufacturing outcomes<\/a> using generative design. This new method does a better job of meeting minimum thickness requirements, balancing design mass, and minimizing support material \u2014 without sacrificing shape quality to be fully self-supporting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many leading companies have explored the benefits of using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/generative-design-making-outcomes-easier-to-access\/\">generative design<\/a> in tandem with additive manufacturing, including <a href=\"https:\/\/redshift.autodesk.com\/generative-design-in-manufacturing\/\">Hyundai, Panasonic, and more<\/a>. Download Fusion 360 today to explore innovative additive manufacturing solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/free-trial\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Download.png\" alt=\"download-fusion-360\" class=\"wp-image-13104\" width=\"280\" height=\"43\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>3D printing has come a long way from the early days of desktop figurines. As technology continues to evolve, the future brighter than ever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4033,"featured_media":16164,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[236,165],"tags":[73,254],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-16163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mechanical-engineering","category-industrial-design","tag-3d-printing","tag-additive-manufacturing","dhig-theme--light"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Does the Future of 3D Printing Look Like? - Fusion Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"3D printing has come a long way from the early days of desktop figurines. 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