Gartner: It will take at least 5 to 10 more years for 3D printing to become widespread.

Time:

Jul 24,2019

According to a report by market research firm Gartner, 3D printers and 3D printing technology are developing, but in the short term, the development of this technology will focus on commercial and medical markets, while the popularization of 3D printing in the consumer market will take at least 5 to 10 years.

Through 3D printing technology, users can print 3D-shaped objects using materials such as plastic, metal, and wax. In recent years, many manufacturers have launched 3D printers, and the application of 3D printing technology in surgery and fashion has also attracted greater interest in this technology. However, according to Gartner's report, there are still many obstacles to overcome before this market opens up to consumers, one of which is the high price of 3D printers.

Pete Basiliere, Vice President of Research at Gartner, stated: "It will take 5 to 10 years for consumer 3D printers to gain acceptance among mainstream users. Today, about 40 manufacturers sell 3D printers, most of which are used for commercial purposes. More than 200 startups worldwide are developing and selling 3D printers aimed at the consumer market, with prices starting as low as a few hundred dollars. However, even considering the public's broad awareness of this technology and the media's interest in it, such prices are still too high for mainstream consumers."

Gartner believes that currently, 3D printing technology may be more beneficial to some companies, including those providing 3D printing software, 3D scanners, and 3D printing services. This development is expected to arrive in the next 2 to 5 years, during which the medical industry will further utilize 3D printing technology.

Basiliere stated: "At that time, as the world begins to use 3D printing technology for organ repair and transplantation, 3D printed medical devices will bring exciting benefits that change people's lives."

According to Gartner's report, there have been some attempts to use 3D printing to create large structures or apply this technology in education, but the widespread popularization of these application scenarios will take more than 10 years. This is mainly due to the high cost of using this technology and the difficulty of implementation, especially considering that many schools have limited budgets and can only allocate funds for more critical uses.

Ultimately, 3D printing will bring more complex application scenarios than people expect, which is also a major factor hindering the popularization of this technology among consumers. Basiliere stated: "There is a complex ecosystem of software, hardware, and materials surrounding the home use of 3D printing technology. The use of these devices is not as simple as that of ordinary printers."

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