3D printing – the additive fabrication of objects by depositing and patterning successive layers of material – has been touted as an enabling platform for applications ranging from lighter, more efficient aircraft and advanced prosthetics to homemade firearms and lab-grown organs. Anthony Vicari, Research Associate at Lux Research, provides this brief report on performance improvements in this space and why additional research and development is needed for these processes to reach commercial maturity.

The use of Additive Manufacturing in the Aerospace & Space industry is still young but is already hailed as the Third Industrial Revolution. Companies are only just learning to achieve economic returns, through the flexibility and the design benefits it provides. In this free exclusive infographic, discover the view of more than 150 experts on the processes they use, what challenges they encounter and where they see future investments.