HBD highlights growth potential for Additive Manufacturing in wearables
July 10, 2024

Chinese metal Additive Manufacturing machine maker Shanghai Hanbang 3D Tech Co., Ltd., otherwise known as HBD, recently highlighted the potential of Additive Manufacturing in the growing wearable artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, wearable AI is currently valued at $62.7 billion; estimations see the market reach $138.5 billion by 2029.
HBD states that the growth of the wearable Al market is driven by seamless integration with smartphones and the Internet of Things (loT), growing awareness regarding health and fitness among the general population, and technological advancements in wearables, including varied price points, diverse designs, and personalised accessories such as straps and watch cases.
It is here that HBD believes Additive Manufacturing can make the most impact, enabling lightweight products and greater design freedom. From a production standpoint, metal AM can also address the difficulties of batch processing challenging materials, enabling the combined production of multiple parts and reducing manufacturing steps and costs.

In the field of consumer electronics, HBD has developed efficient metal Additive Manufacturing technologies that enable the small-batch production of high-quality watch cases, shaft structures, hinge covers, and precision parts. The company adds that its has managed to overcome a number of manufacturing challenges, achieving ultra-thin designs with case thicknesses as slim as 0.5 mm.
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To address the growing demand, HBD developed and released its HBD 400 metal AM machine earlier this year. The six-laser HBD 400 features a 350 × 400 × 400 mm build chamber and offers efficient, safe, and automated production. The machine also features an optimised multi-laser automatic calibration system, with a calibration accuracy of up to 0.05 mm.