Smart data will play an increasingly crucial role in 3D printing. As part of that, we need to think about the ownership of data, but also ask ourselves: who controls the data? In the end, the success of 3D printing depends on having the right hardware and software, but also on our ability to capture, use and apply data to create actionable insights.

“Smart data holds the key to transforming industrial 3D printing production. As manufacturers scale up production, smart data will allow them to reduce scrap rates, predict failures even before they start printing, and meet stringent quality requirements,” said Tim Van den Bogaert, Sr. market director at Materialise Software.