DeepSeek: The Overlooked Revolution of 3D Printing

Panda3dp.com Guide: While AI and humanoid robots dominate trending searches, the "silent revolution" of 3D printing demands recognition. From a conceptual marvel to the bedrock of modern manufacturing, who is truly shaping the future of technology?

The Phenomenon: The "Trending Sensation" of AI and Humanoid Robots vs. The "Invisible Infiltration" of 3D Printing

In recent months, companies such as Unitree Robotics and DeepSeek—part of Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons"—have captured the limelight with mesmerizing videos of humanoid robots dancing and running, coupled with groundbreaking AI advancements. These spectacles have swiftly turned them into darlings of both investors and public discourse. Social media platforms are flooded with clips of robots performing intricate dances and AI composing poetry, amassing millions of views—an electrifying celebration of a seemingly imminent future. Meanwhile, another once-revolutionary technology—3D printing—hailed as the core of the "Third Industrial Revolution," has quietly redefined the manufacturing landscape, yet finds itself largely absent from the viral frenzy.

△Metal 3D Printing Aerospace Components

The Reality: The "Indispensable Revolution" of 3D Printing Has Taken Root

Unlike humanoid robots, which remain in the transition phase from laboratory prototypes to pilot applications, 3D printing has deeply embedded itself into industrial lifelines, becoming an essential pillar across multiple sectors:

1. Aerospace: Titanium-alloy 3D-printed rocket engine components have slashed traditional production timelines from months to mere days, reducing costs by over 30%.

2. Healthcare: 3D-printed dental molds now serve over 90% of the orthodontics market, while personalized orthopedic metal implants save hundreds of thousands of patients annually.

3. Consumer Electronics: Companies like Honor and OPPO have achieved mass production of titanium-alloy 3D-printed phone components, with Apple and Huawei poised to follow suit. The number of 3D-printed parts is expected to reach tens of millions or even billions.

4. Traditional Manufacturing: Sand-based 3D printing has revolutionized the casting industry, pushing the success rate of complex castings from 60% to an astonishing 95%.

This "imperceptible yet transformative" technological evolution is quietly driving industrial progress. However, due to its lack of visual spectacle, it struggles to captivate mainstream attention. As noted by Guohai Securities, 3D printing is transitioning from a "prototyping tool" to a "core production technology," yet public perception remains fixated on its novelty rather than its industrial significance.

The numbers tell the story. According to an article by Panda3dp.com 3D Printing Network, titled *"The Nine 3D Printing, Scanning, and Engraving Companies Projected to Generate 1 Billion RMB in Revenue in 2024,"* the industry has reached considerable scale. Several leading 3D printing enterprises are on track to achieve or exceed 1 billion RMB in annual revenue, including BLT (Xi'an), Shining 3D (Hangzhou), Creality (Shenzhen), Anycubic (Shenzhen), eSUN (Shenzhen), INTAMSYS (Shenzhen), Kings 3D (Shenzhen), and UnionTech (Zhejiang). Moreover, nearly 70 companies have surpassed 100 million RMB in annual revenue. By 2024, China’s 3D printing market is expected to reach 50 billion RMB, with over 4 million 3D printers exported. In 2025, a Shenzhen-based consumer-grade 3D printing company is projected to break the 10-billion-RMB revenue milestone.

In stark contrast, most humanoid robotics companies remain in the "cash-burning R&D" phase, with commercial viability still a distant goal.

The Discrepancy: A Misalignment Between Capital Enthusiasm and Industrial Value

Financial analysts have pointed out a glaring disconnect between the capital market’s valuation of 3D printing and its actual contributions. Take BLT, for instance: despite projected revenues of over 1 billion RMB in 2024, its market value pales in comparison to leading AI and humanoid robotics firms. Conversely, some renowned humanoid robot startups, despite yet turning a profit, have already secured billion-RMB valuations. A financial research report bluntly states: "3D printing companies generally trade at price-to-earnings ratios below the tech sector average. This stems from market misconceptions about their ‘manufacturing’ identity, leading to undervaluation."

AI and humanoid robots enjoy a powerful advantage in narrative appeal:

- Manufacturing Disruption: Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot is slated for mass production by 2025, while Unitree’s H1 robot has achieved 0.5mm precision in automotive electronics assembly.

- Service Revolution: UBTech’s domestic robots cover 85% of household chores, while Fourier’s rehabilitation robots are deployed in over 300 hospitals worldwide.

- Investor Hype: McKinsey forecasts that by 2040, humanoid robots will account for 15% of the global labor force, generating an economic impact of $9 trillion.

Why Is 3D Printing Overlooked?

1. Media’s "Sensory Threshold": The human-like motions of robots and AI’s conversational prowess naturally provide visual appeal, whereas 3D printing’s "workshop revolution" is difficult to dramatize in short-form media.

2. Capital Markets’ "Narrative Potential": AI is framed as a "disruptor of general intelligence," while 3D printing is often reduced to mere "tool innovation," overshadowing its role in reshaping supply chains.

3. Public Perception’s "Cognitive Bias": The fear of "robots replacing humans" fuels heated debates, whereas the question of "how to manufacture better robots" garners little interest.

The Future: Redefining the Discourse of Technological Progress

The "silence" of 3D printing serves as a stark reminder of the current biases in technological evaluation—favoring speculative visions of the future while underappreciating the foundational advancements of the present. Yet history has consistently demonstrated that the most profound technological shifts are often those that unfold quietly, transforming industries at their core.

On February 24, 2025, Panda3dp.com reported that China’s two major publicly listed 3D printing firms, BLT (688333) and Farsoon Technologies (688433), had experienced consecutive stock price surges, with Farsoon’s market valuation surpassing 20 billion RMB.

As Jeremy Rifkin once predicted in The Third Industrial Revolution, true technological revolutions are not defined by dazzling products but by the fundamental reconfiguration of production systems. While we marvel at the leaps made by AI and humanoid robotics, the steady evolution of 3D printing may very well be laying the groundwork for the most robust future of Chinese manufacturing.

Note: This article was written by Panda3dp.com using DeepSeek.