Within the first a part of this collection, we spoke with Xometry’s Senior Vice President of Market Operations, Mike Cavalieri, about how producers are reshoring, diversifying their suppliers, and constructing extra resilient provide chains. Now, in Half Two, we return to our dialog with Cavalieri to discover how additive manufacturing (AM) is changing into one of many methods firms reply to these pressures, not simply in prototyping, however all through their improvement cycles, and what nonetheless limits its wider adoption.
Mike Cavalieri. Picture courtesy of Xometry.
As designs mature, some prospects preserve components in AM for area of interest, complicated, or light-weight parts. Others use it to check their designs earlier than shifting to conventional strategies. Sometimes, Cavalieri says they see prospects transition from AM to injection molding as soon as the design is stabilized they usually need the lowest-cost answer. However AM is what lets them get there quicker; they’ll check, iterate, and be taught with out ready weeks for tooling.
This helps clarify why Xometry sees rising demand throughout all the AM spectrum, from aerospace and protection to shopper merchandise and, an increasing number of, with the booming drone sector.
“We see important uplift in drone purposes. The know-how is cheaper, the software program is best, and the use circumstances (from medical provide supply to protection) are increasing quick.”
That spectrum is extremely large. On the excessive finish, Xometry is supporting components for house exploration and superior protection methods. On the on a regular basis aspect, it is likely to be a easy shopper product or perhaps a residence gadget, like a window field for metropolis gardening. What connects these initiatives isn’t the trade, however the want for quicker improvement and fewer publicity to supply-chain danger, he explains.
So what’s nonetheless holding 3D printing again?
Regardless of its momentum, AM nonetheless struggles with one main barrier: confidence.
“Materials traceability and certification are the largest hurdles. Prospects need to understand how layers are bonded, learn how to show the fabric matches the design, and learn how to qualify it for zero-tolerance purposes.”
For sectors like aerospace and automotive, the place a single failure is unacceptable, this stays a deal-breaker. In reality, a few of Xometry’s prospects try to shut that hole themselves.
“We see extra prospects embarking on their very own analysis to get assured with additive materials construction. They’re printing and testing materials coupons (small pattern items used to confirm properties) and dealing with OEMs to higher perceive how these components behave in real-world situations. The core advantages, like decrease weight, much less materials waste, and the flexibility to print geometries which can be not possible with CNC or molding, are just too worthwhile to disregard.”
“Any time you’re desirous about lowest price, much less materials utilization, and lighter components, additive has unbelievable benefits,” he added. “The query now’s how rapidly certification and requirements can catch up so extra of these components can transfer into really crucial purposes.”
Cavalieri in contrast it to CNC machining, noting that with this, customers can order billet aluminum, get their certification from the mill, and know precisely what properties to count on. However AM doesn’t have that very same consolation degree. This hole has slowed the usage of AM for end-use manufacturing, at the same time as advances in course of monitoring and materials science proceed.
Xometry’s Gaithersburg, Maryland web site. Picture courtesy of Xometry.
AI is accelerating AM adoption
One space the place AM has a pure head begin is digital quotability. As a result of each half begins as a 3D file, AI-powered quoting and matching are significantly correct, Cavalieri said.
“Our AI can analyze the 3D mannequin, calculate the toolpath, estimate the fabric, and immediately generate the price. That velocity is a serious cause prospects transfer rapidly in additive. This additionally permits firms to scale prototyping far past what an inside print lab can deal with. If you would like a bigger pattern measurement for early manufacturing or testing, Xometry can quickly spool that up.”
AI additionally helps prospects determine when AM is the proper reply and when it isn’t. And since all the things begins from a 3D mannequin, Xometry’s quote engine can very transparently calculate what it is going to take to print a component and examine that with CNC or molding. Meaning engineers don’t must guess. They’ll see when AM is the quickest path, when it’s the most affordable, and when it is sensible to change applied sciences. This mixture of AI-powered quoting and powerful AM capability is why Cavalieri sees the tech as a long-lasting a part of manufacturing, not a short-term development.
{The marketplace} technique
Cavalieri saved coming again to how Xometry sees its position: a clear market that gives prospects extra decisions and offers suppliers a gentle stream of labor.
“We’re not uncovered to any single geography. If a disruption occurs, we will rapidly discover one other location to fabricate. This issues simply as a lot for small AM outlets because it does for giant machine homes. Companions come to us as a result of they know we’re a dependable supply of demand. They’ll preserve their outlets operating at full capability utilizing our platform.”
Internally, Xometry is increasing quickly as nicely; the corporate now has 1,500 staff.
Xometry’s Gaithersburg, Maryland web site. Picture courtesy of Xometry.
When reflecting on Xometry’s day-to-day work with prospects, Cavalieri highlighted two issues. First, the number of additive purposes that firms convey to the platform continues to develop. Second, prospects proceed to face sturdy price pressures, and Xometry is working carefully with its manufacturing companions to push prices down whereas serving to prospects exceed expectations.
Even with that stress, the momentum is simple. AM is not a distinct segment know-how; it’s changing into a regular a part of the manufacturing toolbox, particularly for firms in search of resilience, velocity, and design freedom.
Cavalieri stated Xometry plans to proceed increasing its know-how portfolio, all the things from extra CNC capabilities to new AM processes, all geared toward lowering price and lead time and targeted on the model’s “mission to develop the menu of merchandise it brings to prospects, proving to be more cost effective and quicker than anybody else.”
The corporate’s 2026 Manufacturing Outlook Report gives an in depth view of the forces shaping the approaching 12 months, and Xometry expects to share extra additive-specific information because it turns into accessible.
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