I’ve Never Been More Excited About 3D Printing

Few industries have captivated my attention over the years than 3D printing, and not because I’ve been ultra bullish, but more-so because the trading action has been nothing short of historical. In many instances, we have seen the rise and fall of 3D printing stocks through hype cycles that are reminiscent of tulip bubbles and crypto. For example, look at this chart of a major player in the 3D printing space – whoa:

For this reason, I have had 3D printing on my watchlist for quite some time. It has always fascinated me. Also, I have always wanted a reason for 3D printing to succeed. It has the potential to truly change manufacturing and as mentioned in my previous post, be the catalyst for American manufacturing.

Important update: I’ve created a comprehensive investors guide to 3D printing here. It’s free and open to all of my readers!

Today, I feel it’s happening. And it’s happening for a rather simple reason: AI is the spark that 3D printing always needed. I’ll explain in 5 quick points that are instantly unlocked for all of us to print anything we ever dreamed of because of AI:

1. Faster Manufacturing: AI optimizes the 3D printing process because it can create designs, CAD files, review work, create code, and determine the most efficient printing path, reducing production time. Anyone with Claude or ChatGPT can ask for 3D printed mockup and get started within seconds.
2. Improved Prototyping and Design: AI-powered design tools enable automated generation of complex geometries that would be challenging to create manually and/or take countless hours. Now, it can be done faster than anyone had ever imagined.
3. Enhanced Coding and Slicing: AI enhances the slicing process (converting a 3D model into instructions for the 3D printer) by optimizing layer thickness and printing speed.
4. Predictive Maintenance: AI-driven predictive maintenance systems monitor the health of 3D printers, forecasting potential failures before they occur. This minimizes downtime and extends the lifespan of the equipment.
5. Material Innovation: AI aids in the development of new printing materials by simulating various compounds and being a sandbox for researchers to utilize. This accelerates the discovery of materials with improved strength, flexibility, and other desired properties. We are now just scratching the surface for new 3D printing material.

At its core, the absolute most important thing take away from everything listed above, is the speed at which people can create and 3D print just about anything, which previously was not nearly as possible as it is today in terms of speed. Within 30 minutes I can have a generative design ready to print.

Perhaps even more interesting, is that I analyzed some of the recent stats and facts that have been estimated, studied, and released. I’ve shown some of these stats and facts below. However, none of these stats and facts have been adjusted for the sudden proliferation of AI efficiencies that speed up design, prototyping, quality control, and printing:

1. Market Growth: The global 3D printing market is expected to reach $62.79 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% from 2021 to 2028.
2. Diverse Applications: 3D printing is estimated to be used across every industry, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, textiles, and consumer goods by the year 2030.
3. Cost Efficiency: 3D printing reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need international shipping and labor, while also reducing material waste and allowing for manufacturing onsite.

This is the most excited I’ve ever been in this industry and I should finish today’s post with something cool: I have started the process of my first-ever 3D printed design, and I will share the journey once I finish it! I could not have started this project without AI tools helping me with underlying design, code and modeling.

Written by Stefan Cheplick, a fintech builder and writer with experience at Stocktwits and TradingView. Background and published work.