Interest in 3D printing is remaking the manufacturing landscape. Consulting firm IDC says global spending on 3D printers, both desktop and industrial, hit about $11 billion in 2015 and is forecast to reach $27 billion by 2019. Another research company (MarketsandMarkets) is saying 3D printing will experience 30% compound annual growth and reach $30 billion by 2022. In its April 2016 study, “3D Printing Comes of Age in U.S. Industrial Manufacturing,” Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) says compared to two years ago, more manufacturers (52% this year compared to 38% in 2014) expect 3D printing to be used in high-volume production in the next three to five years.
Metal-printed parts are being increasingly considered for lowering component weight without compromising on strength, for example in aerospace applications where decreased weight leads to increased efficiency. For such safety-critical aerospace components as well as automotive, energy, and medical devices, it is essential to know whether voids or inclusions are present, how large they are (both individually and in total), and where they occur—and also whether the dimensions of the part conform to those of the design.