3D Printing Research Association presents on next-gen robotics and AM-based manufacturing innovation at AM KOREA 2026 Conference
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Originally reported by eyard.net
On July 9, 2026, the 3D Printing Research Association (3D프린팅연구조합) presented at the second AM KOREA 2026 Conference held at KINTEX in Ilsan, South Korea. Center Director Kang Min-cheol delivered a talk titled "Next-Generation Robotics and Additive Manufacturing-Based Manufacturing Innovation Strategy" within the AI-based manufacturing innovation and AM technology session. The presentation covered metal AM processes including PBF (Powder Bed Fusion) and DED (Directed Energy Deposition), and explored how AM can reduce part development time, enable lightweighting, and consolidate functions in robot hardware - from humanoid robots to collaborative robots, industrial robots, and defense unmanned systems. Kang emphasized that the core challenge in robot part manufacturing is producing metal components "cheaply and quickly," and positioned AM as a complement to traditional processes such as sand casting, investment casting, die casting, powder metallurgy, forging, and machining.
This presentation fits squarely within the ongoing industry debate about where AM can deliver economic value in serial production versus prototyping or low-volume manufacturing. Kang explicitly acknowledged that AM becomes uneconomical at volumes exceeding several thousand units, where die casting or pressing remain superior - a pragmatic boundary that many AM advocates gloss over. The talk also highlighted a recurring pattern in the Korean AM ecosystem: leveraging the country's existing strengths in precision manufacturing, mold-making, materials, and automation to integrate AM as a complementary tool rather than a wholesale replacement. The emphasis on combining AM with traditional casting - using SLA-based burn-out patterns for investment casting and binder jetting for sand molds - reflects a mature, cost-conscious approach that aligns with the broader industry shift toward hybrid manufacturing strategies rather than pure AM evangelism.
From an expert standpoint, the presentation is notable for its grounded, application-specific framing rather than broad technology hype. Kang's distinction between AM's sweet spot (dozens to hundreds of parts) and its disadvantage at high volumes is a useful reality check for the robotics sector, where production scale varies widely. The practical next step for Korean robotics firms is to evaluate which specific components - lightweight structural links, integrated cooling channels, consolidated joint assemblies - can justify the AM premium at their expected production volumes. For the AM industry, this signals that the Korean market is moving beyond curiosity toward disciplined, process-aware adoption, but the volume ceiling Kang identified means AM will remain a niche enabler in robotics rather than a dominant manufacturing method.
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