The Markforged FX10 3D printer fabricated parts in stainless steel or carbon-fiber-infused nylon.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The world\u2019s largest manufacturing equipment expo, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS)<\/a> returns to Chicago\u2019s McCormick Place this week expecting to impress nearly 90,000 attendees with the latest in machine tools, injection molders, robotics, and, of course, 3D printers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t think of 3D printing (also called additive manufacturing, AM) as being on par with those other types of manufacturing technologies, there are about exhibitors in the IMTS\u2019 Additive Manufacturing Sector ready to convince you otherwise.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe are razor-sharp focused on the factory floor,\u201d says Shai Terem, CEO of Massachusetts-based 3D printer manufacturer Markforged<\/a>. \u201cOur solution is intended to replace metal CNC machine parts, or compliment them, so, for us, IMTS is a focused show to reach our target audience.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Markforged has recently unveiled the FX10, a new metal 3D printer capable of producing stainless steel components which Terem indicates could replace approximately 10% of traditionally machined metal parts. “Most of our customers seek our services when they are looking to substitute the metal parts they currently machine,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n A newcomer to the exhibition, the North Carolina-based Axtra3D<\/a>, is showcasing its resin 3D printing technology. They aim to draw the attention of show attendees and appeal to fellow exhibitors, particularly manufacturing service providers who are beginning to include 3D printing within their service provisions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Axtra3D’s LumiaX1 resin 3D printer successfully produced 60 end-use electrical connectors in just over three hours, with a reported cost of less than one dollar per part.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “Our main value proposition is to replace some of the traditional manufacturing processes in very specific applications,” stated Rajeev Kulkarni, the chief strategy officer at Axtra3D. “Additive manufacturing won’t necessarily compete against traditional manufacturing overall; it serves as a complementary tool, but for certain uses, it significantly enhances value.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n For example, creating mold inserts used in the injection molding of plastic end-use parts. Kulkarni mentions that his company’s presence at IMTS aims to engage exhibitors involved in mold tooling who could benefit from using Axtra3D\u2019s 3D printer. He highlights that 3D printed mold inserts and other 3D printed components are significantly more cost-effective than those crafted through conventional methods for productions under 50,000 units, appealing to manufacturers facing financial challenges today.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The U.S. manufacturing sector has seen a slowdown during the modest economic recovery this past year. High interest rates affecting capital investment were evident at IMTS, reflected by a decrease in the number of exhibitors. The Additive Manufacturing Sector at the event was slightly reduced, missing notable manufacturers like HP and Nexa3D. Nonetheless, the message that 3D printing presents a less expensive alternative to traditional manufacturing techniques for specific applications remained a prominent discussion among AM companies. Yet, it remains to be seen if attendees are ready to embrace these innovative approaches.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n 3D printing has already proven its worth as the preferred technology for creating prototypes. The emerging challenge now is its application in the manufacture of production volumes of end-use parts. There are numerous success stories from pioneering firms like BMW, Ford, Boeing, and the U.S. military employing this technology.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n 3D printer, materials, and software company Stratasys showcased its machines and parts at the previous IMTS event in 2022 and is set to return this year with new products.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “The additive manufacturing firms showcased at IMTS are transitioning to be key players in mainstream manufacturing,” mentioned Peter Eelman, the chief experience officer at the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), the organizer of IMTS. “This shift towards mainstream adoption is majorly due to the availability of materials that meet the necessary industry requirements,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n According to Eelman, the emphasis for exhibitors in the AM Sector is on creating components that are robust, verifiable, and functional throughout the manufacturing process. These companies are marketing their devices as essential aids for metal cutting, metal forming, and other conventional processes by offering cost-effective, quicker, and superior molds, jigs, fixtures, and small-scale production of final parts.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “Roughly a decade ago, when additive manufacturing first appeared at IMTS, it was primarily for show,” Eelman pointed out. “Companies demonstrated potential uses, yet it wasn’t practically applied.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Presently, Eelman notes, AM firms are present with actual parts and specific uses for those parts, which are impossible to fabricate by any other techniques.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Markforge’s Terem also sees additive manufacturing (AM) reaching a pivotal moment. “For it to be embraced in the manufacturing sector for producing functional parts, additive manufacturing must demonstrate that it’s sufficiently advanced, trustworthy, and reliable,” he comments.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Initially, pioneers of 3D printing attempted to stretch its capabilities to include final product components but often fell short as the technology wasn’t originally engineered for such purposes, Terem notes. However, there have been significant advancements in processes and materials. “Previously, the technology wasn’t equipped to meet the demands of major clients who need to depend on the technology around the clock, particularly for managing inventory and operational components,” he explains.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n BigRep’s latest Viio 250 3D printer is tailored for fabricating large-scale tools, fixtures, and molds using superior engineering polymers seamlessly, without requiring assembly.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Markforged is just one among many 3D printing enterprises endeavoring to establish AM as a sophisticated and evolving industrial technique. An upcoming exposition set for Chicago in April, also organized in collaboration with AMT, will focus exclusively on the integration of additive technologies in manufacturing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “For too long, U.S. manufacturers have heard of additive manufacturing as an emerging technology but haven\u2019t been given the framework to fully harness its potential,” reads the promotions for FormnextChicago<\/a>, April 8-10, 2025. Organizers promise to “bring together the experts you need to accelerate your operations with additive manufacturing.”<\/p>\n The event is the U.S. premier of the world\u2019s largest additive manufacturing trade show that takes place every November in Frankfurt, Germany. FormnextChicago will feature presentations and exhibitors representing the full ecosystem of the AM industry, says Eelman, yet the expo floor itself is expected to be slightly larger than IMTS\u2019 AM Sector. “We’re not coming out of the gate with a giant show. We’re coming out of the gate with a show that’s going to grow because it’s going to grow with the [AM] industry.”<\/p>\n Growing toward industrial manufacturing with 3D printers from prototyping with them is not just the journey customers are on; many 3D printer makers, too, have moved from offering prototyping machines to offering what they market as factory-focused 3D printers.<\/p>\n With its new industrial-focused 3D printers capable of fabricating with engineering grade polymers, such as carbon-fiber filled nylon and PEEK, Berlin-based 3D printer manufacturer BigRep<\/a> now has its sights set on the factory floor.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “IMTS is a critical platform for us to … engage directly with industrial manufacturing professionals at every stage of their learning journey, from those just beginning to explore AM to those seeking to integrate it fully into their production processes,” says Jeff Olson, BigRep\u2019s director of business development Americas.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Differentiating the AM exhibitors at IMTS 2024 from previous editions is the scope of the offerings representing the journey from discovery to implementation. Alongside 3D printer manufacturers representing a wide range of metal and polymer solutions are a record number of 3D printing contract manufacturers (or job shops that have added AM to their service menu), such as Endeavor 3D, Materialise, and 3DEO. There are also 3D printing material makers, such as metal powder producers 6K Additive, GKN Additive Forecast 3D, and Fortius Metals. But the AM area growing the most at this year\u2019s IMTS is software.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n All additive manufacturing starts with a digital file of a part typically created in computer-aided design (CAD) software. Bolstering the importance of digital technology at IMTS are three new exhibitors in 2024: Google, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Automation Ecosystem from 3D printer and materials maker Formlabs is an automated hardware and software system for 24\/7 non-stop part production.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Each of these technology behemoths have embraced that the future of manufacturing is steeped in digital technologies, necessitating extensive data storage and computing capabilities for everything from electronic part catalogs to AI-enhanced part design and testing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Under the banner of CAD\/CAM (computer-aided manufacturing), there are 28 exhibitors, among them Hexagon, PTC, and manufacturers of 3D printers, who offer an extensive variety of AM-specific software packages.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “Additive manufacturing has made it possible to produce large quantities of designs previously deemed unachievable,” said Autodesk, a prominent figure in CAD\/CAM software, about its increased presence at IMTS. “This advance allows for the creation of vastly superior products at a pace previously unimaginable. The cascading effect of this advancement is reshaping how designers and engineers approach product design.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Exploring everything from initial part conception, through the materials used, to fabrication, production, and printing services, AM is showcasing its comprehensive process at this year’s IMTS.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service.<\/a> We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. 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