Additive Manufacturing as an Important Industry Player for the Next Decades

Abstract Additive Manufacturing (AM) concerns all classes of materials – polymers, metals, ceramics and glasses as well. For this reason, AM is in the focus of material scientists from all branches. Leaders of the industry realize that the possibilities of 3D printing are endless, and that these possibilities need ways and means to be taken full advantage of. Today, aerospace engineers are using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) method for rapid prototyping, part manufacturing, and tooling. They are followed by leaders and engineers from industry (industrial machines, motor vehicles, consumer products, medical/dental) but also from academic institutions and government/military.