AMR's Ranking Reveals Key Trends in Metal 3D Printing Material Usage
15 Jan 2024
0 Comments
In January 2024, Xpiens learned that Additive Manufacturing Research (AMR) released a survey on the usage rates of metal materials in 3D printing, providing the latest charts and an insightful “Power Ranking” for various metals in AMR’s metal additive manufacturing powder.
Evaluating the Metal Powder Market
When assessing the metal powder market, it’s crucial to balance factors like growth and sales volume. Materials with smaller annual shipments may have higher growth rates. Moreover, different metals have varying densities; hence, tracking powder weight alone doesn’t paint the complete picture. For instance, a ton of aluminum powder occupies a much larger volume than a ton of steel.
AMR’s Power Ranking Methodology
To accurately compare the significance of metals to the overall 3D printing market, AMR devised a power ranking system. The total market share of each metal powder type in a given year, multiplied by the growth rate of the powder's shipment in the same year, is multiplied by
100 to create the initial ranking. This value is then divided by the sum of all ranking values in that year and normalized for cross-year comparisons.
Insights from AMR’s Latest Power Rankings
The latest AMR power ranking chart reveals intriguing trends:
- Titanium alloys hold a prominent position due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, making them crucial in additive manufacturing for aerospace and medical applications.
- Steel, with its versatility and consistent performance, lays the foundation for various industries.
- Nickel alloys are noted for their high-performance characteristics in extreme environments, becoming indispensable in sectors like aerospace and energy.
- Aluminum is increasingly popular, thanks to its lightweight and the push for more energy-efficient components in automotive and aerospace.
Tags:
