ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Additive manufacturing ( AM ) hardware and materials are advancing rapidly , and cost per part is continuing to fall , opening a more comprehensive range of low- to mid-volume applications for the technology .
RISE OF THE DISRUPTOR
“ AM enables the manufacturing of complex designs that are too difficult or expensive to produce using traditional machining , milling , moulds and dies .”
Additive Manufacturing ( AM ) is defined as the process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data , usually layer upon layer , as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies . It offers design flexibility , mass customisation , process sustainability and rapid product development .
The term AM encompasses many technologies including subsets such as 3D Printing ; Rapid Prototyping ( RP ); Direct Digital Manufacturing ( DDM ); layered manufacturing and additive fabrication . The early use of AM , in the form of Rapid Prototyping , focused on pre-production visualisation models . More recently , AM is being used to fabricate end-use products in aircraft , dental restorations , medical implants , automobiles and even fashion products .
“ One of the greatest benefits of this more modern technology is the greater range of shapes which can be produced ,” explained SmarTech Analysis . Designs that cannot be manufactured in one entire piece using traditional means can easily be achieved . For example , shapes with a scooped-out or hollow centre can be produced as a single piece , without the need to weld or attach individual components together . This has the advantage of being stronger with no weak spots which can be compromised or stressed .
AM hardware and materials are advancing rapidly , and cost per part is continuing to fall , opening a more comprehensive range of low-
Right : Sandvik created a smash-proof , 3D printed guitar then challenged rock legend , Yngwie Malmsteen , to smash it .
34 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR April 2021