A Three-Part Series on Materials, Processes, and Machines in Additive Manufacturing

Before even considering the processes, it is important to examine the material aspect of 3D printing. Four categories of materials are used in 3D printing: metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. However, the two most widely used categories are polymers (thermoplastics, thermosetting resins, etc.), which still account for about two-thirds of the AM materials market by value, and metals (aluminum, steel, nickel, titanium, etc.), which account for about one-third of the market. The other categories still account for only a marginal share.

Although the range of materials available continues to grow, it remains limited compared to the variety of materials available for traditional processes. Furthermore, these materials must be available in...