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Stakeholder Perspectives on the Current and Future of Additive Manufacturing in Healthcare
technologies were rapidly implemented to develop toward systems that enable serialized production.
surgical models for pre-operative planning and surgical Supporting this drive to large-scale production has
teaching . These derived further use in ophthalmology , been a secondary focus on quality assurance revolving
[5]
[6]
medical instruments , and spinal surgery ; nevertheless, around process simulation to ensure a “first-time-right”
[8]
[7]
some of these polymer based techniques have been approach and process monitoring. More telling, however,
criticized for their resolution, deposition rates and low are the areas that feature less prominently. The topic of
mechanical properties . Since then, metal AM has part finishing is rarely mentioned in significant press
[9]
captured the imagination of individuals and companies releases, and the often highly manual methods used are
while retaining a general perception of being an regarded by those in the AM field as a “dirty secret” of the
emerging fringe technology, despite commercial systems process. Likewise, system safety measures tend to make
being available for almost 20 years . Developments by marketing material; however, these improvements rarely
[10]
system manufacturers themselves have understandably headline in press releases. Finally, aside the addition
revolved around increasing the industrial presence of of more lasers to improve productivity, these metal
AM by tackling what is generally referred to as the processes remain largely unchanged technically since
“barriers to entry.” Figure 1 shows a timeline of key they first emerged with minor incremental improvements
announcements from metal AM system producers over to print resolution.
the past 5 years that, while not exhaustive, provide Some similarities can be found in the case of
insight into what the manufacturers perceive as the main prominent polymer 3D printing manufacturers that
barriers to entry. As one of the leaders pushing through have favored the requirements of large enterprises in
the next industrial revolution , it is necessary to bring aerospace and automotive. The selective laser sintering
[11]
together all stakeholders to guide the future evolution P770, P500, and P810 series announced by EOS between
of these techniques and their implementation across all 2016 and 2018, aimed to provide high efficiency, larger
sectors. chambers, automatization and increased print speed while
Figure 1 highlights the areas that these metal recently presenting their LaserProFusion technology
AM system producers want the industry to see as their with significant raise in laser number . Similarly,
[16]
key developments and, although it is difficult to draw 3D systems launched the MultiJet ProJet MJP 5600 in
firm conclusions, there are some clear points to note. 2017 only announcing a next generation high speed
Universally these producers have championed features fusion 3D printing system on February of last year ,
[17]
that increase production (i.e., more extensive systems, while Stratasys offered Fortus 900MC in 2016 and F770
lasers, and full automation) and emphasized a move in May of 2021 . It must be mentioned however that
[18]

Figure 1. Timeline of key metal AM announcements by system producers with symbols denoting what specific technical, manufacturing, or
entry barrier they are related to (Note: Dates relate to news article releases rather than in-service dates). Compiled using various sources [12-16].

206 International Journal of Bioprinting (2022)–Volume 8, Issue 3