What is one barrier to AM growth in the overall manufacturing market?

Variable part tolerance is a significant barrier to the growth of additive manufacturing (AM) in the overall manufacturing market. AM technologies, while offering unique design capabilities and the ability to create complex geometries, often struggle to achieve the same level of dimensional accuracy and tolerance consistency as traditional manufacturing methods. Many applications, especially in sectors like aerospace and automotive, demand tight tolerances and high dimensional precision for components. If AM processes cannot reliably meet these stringent requirements, it limits their adoption in critical applications where precision is paramount.

In contrast, high-speed production, low material variety, and simple design requirements are not typically considered barriers in the same way. While high-speed production is often seen as a potential advantage of traditional manufacturing methods, it does not inherently impede AM growth. Low material variety also doesn't serve as a significant barrier, as AM technologies are rapidly developing new materials that expand their applicability. Lastly, simple design requirements suggest that AM might fit into specific contexts where other methods prevail, but they do not highlight the challenges posed by tolerancing that AM must overcome in more complex applications.