Additive manufacturing (AM) is arguably the broadest category of manufacturing out there. AM includes seven distinct families of 3D printing technologies, each containing many different varieties of the given process. It utilizes materials ranging from metal powder to liquid resins to composites, and delivers objects ranging from look-and-feel prototypes to all types of tooling to full-volume production runs. And, it is finding footholds in wide-ranging sectors, including aerospace, automotive, medical, defense, fabrication, architecture, consumer goods and more.
Whether in metals or polymers, for medical implants or aerospace parts, there can be hurdles to implementing additive manufacturing, as well as many advantages.
Top and bottom left images: Staff | Top right: Model No. | Bottom right: GE Additive
With so much to take in, it can be difficult for manufacturers to see the way forward with additive, or even how to think about bringing AM into their businesses. Over at Additive Manufacturing, sister publication to Modern Machine Shop, we’ve created an entry-level resource that breaks down the challenges and issues surrounding AM, but also the opportunities this technology stands to bring to its users.
Head to our New to AM? microsite to learn:
- What distinguishes the seven AM process families, and which techniques are most commonly used for production
- The various classes of materials it is possible to 3D print with
- Real-world use cases and applications for AM
- What to consider in developing an additive manufacturing workflow
- What equipment AM requires, beyond the printer
- How to think about the business side of 3D printing
- Trends that will drive AM farther, including artificial intelligence, distributed manufacturing and sustainability
RELATED CONTENT
-
Do's and Don'ts of Finishing Metal 3D-Printed Parts
Finishing 3D-printed parts requires different considerations than conventionally machined ones. One expert offers tips.
-
How Fluid Dynamics, 3D Printing Delivered a Better Air Duct
Software tools such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) reveal geometries that can only be realized through 3D printing. HP and Siemens share an example in an episode of The Cool Parts Show: an air duct.
-
Inside Oak Ridge’s 3D-Printed Machine Tool Moonshot
The widespread outsourcing of large machine castings led a collaborative team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to tackle the machine tool supply chain. The first step? 3D print the largest cast component.