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 3D printing (also called additive manufacturing, AM) is on par with those other types of manufacturing technologies, there are about 80 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 recently introduced their new metal 3D printer, the FX10, which is able to produce stainless steel components. Terem estimates these could substitute approximately 10% of the metal parts currently created through traditional machining. Their primary clientele seek this technology as a replacement for the parts they typically machine.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n A first-time participant at the event, Axtra3D from North Carolina, showcased their resin 3D printing technology. This innovation is aimed not only at attracting event attendees but also at connecting with other exhibitors, including manufacturing service providers who are progressively incorporating 3D printing into their service repertoire. Axtra3D<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The LumiaX1, a resin 3D printer by Axtra3D, succeeded in producing 60 end-use electrical connectors in slightly over three hours, achieving a production cost of less than one dollar for each part.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n According to Rajeev Kulkarni, the chief strategy officer at Axtra3D, their core value proposition is to replace certain traditional manufacturing processes in specific applications. While additive manufacturing (AM) isn’t aiming to completely replace traditional manufacturing, it serves as a supplementary tool that provides significant advantages in specific scenarios.<\/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 connect with exhibitors involved in mold tooling who could benefit from using Axtra3D\u2019s 3D printer. He explains that 3D printed mold inserts and other parts, particularly in quantities below 50,000, are much more cost-effective than those produced through traditional methods, making them attractive to manufacturers facing financial pressures.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The U.S. manufacturing sector has experienced sluggish growth over the past year amidst a modest economic recovery. Elevated interest rates have curbed capital investment, evident from reduced exhibitor attendance at IMTS. The Additive Manufacturing Sector is notably smaller this year, lacking major players like HP and Nexa3D. Despite these absences, the argument that 3D printing is a financially viable alternative for certain manufacturing tasks remains prominent among AM businesses. However, it’s uncertain whether attendees are ready to embrace this innovation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n 3D printing has already proven essential for prototype development, positioning itself as a key technology for producing large volumes of final-use parts. This shift is supported by pioneering efforts from major companies such as BMW, Ford, Boeing, and the U.S. military.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Stratasys, a recognized name in 3D printers, materials, and software, showcased their equipment and products at IMTS. Returning this year, they promise to introduce innovative new offerings.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “The additive manufacturing companies that you see at IMTS are the ones that are moving into the mainstream of manufacturing,” says Peter Eelman, the chief experience officer at the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), which produces the IMTS. “And the reason that they’re starting to really advance into mainstream manufacturing is that the materials can now support the products that are necessary to play in this industry.”<\/p>\n Eelman explains that the focus for many AM Sector exhibitors is on creating parts that are durable, provable, and functional throughout the manufacturing cycle. These companies are aligning their devices to assist in metal cutting, metal forming, and other conventional processes by providing more cost-effective, swift, and superior molds, jigs, and fixtures, as well as small-scale production of final-use components.<\/p>\n “About 10 years ago, when we first introduced additive manufacturing at IMTS, it was primarily for show,” mentions Eelman. “Companies exhibited potential uses, yet it wasn\u2019t being practically applied.”<\/p>\n Currently, he notes, AM companies are presenting with tangible parts and specialized applications for new components that are impossible to produce through other means.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Markforge’s Terem also views additive manufacturing (AM) as approaching a crucial juncture. He notes, “For functional parts in a factory setting, additive manufacturing must now demonstrate that it is sufficiently advanced, trustworthy, and reliable.”<\/p>\n Terem elaborates that initial adopters of 3D printing attempted to extend its usage to end-use parts but were unsuccessful due to inappropriate technology. He reflects on the advancement of both processes and materials, stating, “Previously, the technology was not mature enough to convince major users, who need to depend on it continuously, to adopt it for inventory and functional parts.”<\/p>\n BigRep’s latest Viio 250 3D printer is tailored specifically for producing large-scale tools, fixtures, and molds out of engineering-grade polymers seamlessly, without the need for assembly.<\/p>\n Markforged is just one of many players in this field pushing to establish AM as a mature technology in manufacturing. Notably, an upcoming expo in Chicago this April, also organized by AMT, is dedicated exclusively to exploring additive manufacturing applications.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cFor 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,\u201d reads the promotions for FormnextChicago<\/a>, April 8-10, 2025. Organizers promise to \u201cbring together the experts you need to accelerate your operations with additive manufacturing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/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 just 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<\/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<\/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’s 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 Additie, GKN Additive Forecast 3D, and Fortius Metals. However, the AM area growing the most at this year’s 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 These leading technology companies understand that the future of manufacturing lies in digitalization, necessitating vast amounts of data storage and computational capacity for tasks ranging from digital inventories of parts to AI-enhanced design and part simulations.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Under the CAD\/CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) category are 28 exhibitors, among them Hexagon, PTC, and various 3D printing firms offering a broad selection of software tailored for additive manufacturing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “Additive manufacturing has made it possible to mass produce designs that once seemed unachievable,” stated Autodesk, a prominent entity in the CAD\/CAM software market, regarding its expanded role at IMTS. “This capability has allowed for the creation of vastly superior products at unprecedented speeds, which has generated widespread impacts across the industry, altering the way designers and engineers approach their work.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The entire process of additive manufacturing, from the preliminary part design to the materials, manufacturing, production, and printing services, is being showcased at this year’s IMTS.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n One Community. 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