3D printing – A review of processes, materials and applications in industry 4.0

3D printing, unlike other manufacturing processes, being an additive process has emerged as a viable technology for the production of engineering components. The aspects associated with 3D printing such as less material wastage, ease of manufacturing, less human involvement, very less post processing and energy efficiency makes the process sustainable for industrial use. The paper discusses numerous 3D printing processes, their advantages and disadvantages. A comprehensive description of different materials compatible for each type of 3D printing process is presented. The paper also presents the various application areas of each type of process. A dedicated section on industry 4.0 has also been included. The literature studied revealed that although the field of 3D printing has evolved to a great extent, there are still issues that need to be addressed such as material incompatibility and the cost of the materials. Future research could be undertaken to develop and modify the processes to suit a broad range of materials. To broaden the range of applications for 3D printed parts, more focus needs to be laid on developing cost effective printer technologies and materials compatible for these printers.