Mapping the development trajectory of 3D printing technologies

Using patent and citation analysis, this study explores the development trajectory of 3 dimensional printing (3DP) technologies. Different from the existing literature, we disentangle non-3DP technologies from those in the 3DP domain. Our results show that 3D printing technologies invented by the U.S. have played in a dominating role in the main path. In particular, new branches of various types of 3D technologies have all developed from American patents. There was only one main path in 3D printing technologies during 1998 and the early 2000s. However, great diversification can be observed after the mid-2000s. China has been catching up after 2012, in technologies related to both printing materials and printing machines. By tracking technology domains in the patents cited by 3DP technologies, we find that, in the period between 2004 and 2012, technologies from non-3DP domains contributed greatly in shaping the development of 3D printing materials and printing machines. At a disaggregated level, this study provides insights on how technologies from various fields contributed to different 3D printing technology clusters. The methods carried out in this study can be also applied to exploring technological developments and knowledge flows in other fields.