Download document () of 20
Send email
Download
You have exceeded the download limit
Additive manufacturing uses a variety of processes to create complex, three-dimensional objects or products by depositing, joining or solidifying materials such as plastics, liquids, polymer composites, powder grains, metals and ceramics. Objects or products created through additive manufacturing begin with a digital design file typically developed with computer-aided design software. During the additive manufacturing process, materials are applied layer by layer to produce the object. Though the terms are often used interchangeably, 3D printing is one method of additive manufacturing.
Binder jetting
Builds objects from thin layers of ceramic, composite, metal or sand particles that are applied evenly to a build surface. An industrial printhead selectively deposits a binding agent over the powder to create the precise shape of the current cross-section. The object is built layer by layer and must be sintered after building to eliminate porosity and strengthen the object.
Directed energy deposition (DED)
Uses an electron beam gun or laser to melt metal, alloy or other weldable material, fusing it to the base material. This process requires a shield gas or vacuum. DED can be used to build new objects, including large objects. DED is also uniquely suited for use in repairing existing parts because it has five axes of motion rather than just three.
Material extrusion
Extrudes spooled polymers through a heated nozzle mounted on a robotic arm that travels horizontally while the bed moves vertically, layering melted material on layer after layer, with adhesion between layers controlled through temperature control or chemical bonding agents. Material extrusion is also referred to as fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF).
Material jetting
Builds objects out of photopolymers (plastics) with inkjet nozzles that deposit material onto a build platform, curing each layer with ultraviolet (UV) light. This is a low-waste, high-speed process that can deliver multi-material and multicolor parts.
Powder bed fusion (PBF)
Uses electron beams, lasers or thermal print heads to melt or partially melt fine layers of powdered metals or polymers on a build surface to build an object layer by layer. PBF is used in a variety of additive manufacturing processes including several kinds of sintering.
Sheet lamination
Uses alternate layers of thin sheets of material such as paper or metal and conjoins them with adhesive, welding or other laminating methods in a relatively low-temperature, low-energy process
VAT polymerization
Builds objects by applying layer after layer of liquid resin polymer. Each layer is polymerized to the previous layer using ultraviolet (UV) light. Objects created through this process appear to be rising out of the vat of liquid. This high-speed process makes very fine detail possible.
Additive manufacturing is expected to become a larger part of overall manufacturing, with important effects on supply chains, development of materials and technologies, and improving sustainability and conservation.
Additive manufacturing will be an important part of a new supply chain model.
Recent events sorely tested supply chains – and prompted manufacturers to develop new supply chain models and technology to improve their ability to deliver orders. Additive manufacturing is expected to drive decentralization of component production. Localized additive manufacturing is expected to shorten lead times and reduce costs associated with on-hand inventory of specialty parts and transportation of parts from a third-party supplier.
New materials will expand the kinds of products that can be made using additive manufacturing.
The existing materials used in additive manufacturing don’t always produce products that meet industry standards. Development of application-specific materials will broaden the kinds of products additive manufacturing can produce to industry standards.
Technology improvements will support integration of AM with overall production.
Advances in software, workflows, automation, process monitoring and integration with an organization’s existing enterprise solutions will improve additive manufacturing speed, quality and efficiency. This will also enable high-volume production. In addition, software and hardware advances will make it easier to connect and integrate AM solutions with the production floor.
Additive manufacturing will contribute to greater sustainability and conservation.
Additive manufacturing drastically reduces wasted materials, requires fewer manufacturing steps and uses less than half the energy it takes to produce the same product using conventional manufacturing methods.
