Revolutionizing transportation: an overview of 3D printing in aviation, automotive, and space industries

Abstract This review article provides a deep dive into the diverse landscape of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies and their significant impact on the automotive and aviation sectors. It starts by exploring various AM methodologies such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Metal Jet Fusion (MJF), Binder Jetting (BJ), and Directed Energy Deposition (DED), with a specific focus on their applicability, strengths, and challenges within these industries. The article then delves into the practical applications of AM in rapid prototyping, functional part production, and component repair. The results highlight the versatility and precision of SLA and DLP, the strength and durability of SLS, and the potential of metal-based technologies like LPBF, SLM, EBM, and DMLS in manufacturing critical components. The integration of AM with automotive and aviation design underscores the transformative nature of these technologies, driving advancements in lightweight, intricate, and high-performance components. The review concludes by emphasising AM's significant opportunities and acknowledging the ongoing challenges in material properties, post-processing, and production scalability, thereby underscoring the necessity for future research and innovation in these sectors.