What is Additive Manufacturing?

3D printer reads CAD and creates the part by adding small amounts of material in layers until desired geometry is achieved. Post-processing may include light machining, support material removal, surface finishing, sintering, and infiltration but is dependent on the printing process used.

Additive Manufacturing Processes

• Material Jetting
• VAT Photo polymerization
• Powder Bed Fusion
• Sheet Lamination
• Binder Jetting
• Material Extrusion
• Directed Energy Deposition

Where Additive Manufacturing is used

• Aerospace: Due to its weight saving capability and ability to produce complex geometric parts such as blisks.
• Automotive: It speeds up the production rate in the automotive sector.
• Medical: Applications for additively manufactured parts, especially for bespoke custom-fitted implants and devices.

• Consumer products: AM has proven beneficial to the product development of many consumer goods such as sporting goods and consumer electronics.

• Energy: AM innovation in producing efficient, on-demand, lightweight components has driven success in the energy sector.

Limitations of Additive Manufacturing

• Cost of entry is high.
• Production costs are also high.
• Deposited layers can create weakened parts if not calibrated perfectly.
• Much too slow for mass manufacturing.
• Special materials are required for application in corrosive environments, or where food-grade materials are required.
• The machines require very highly trained maintenance teams.