ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Left : BMW additive manufacturing metal component production through selective laser beam melting . Below : BMW additive manufacturing metal components .
Leading manufacturers are leveraging additive manufacturing to save money , shorten lead times , solve complex problems and improve processes from prototyping to production
scanners to take precise measurements of the product to be custom designed ,” commented analyst , Research and Markets .
“ The material of construction used to produce these 3D models are environmentally sustainable since they can be recycled . Increasing utilisation of ecologically-friendly technology that helps with environmental conservation and the rising awareness with regard to green technology further propels the growth of this market . The low cost of creating a product , coupled with easy customisation of the same , impacts the market positively .”
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 . Leading manufacturers are leveraging additive manufacturing to save money , shorten lead times , solve complex problems and improve processes from prototyping to production .
“ 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 .
“ 3D printing is benefiting manufacturers in terms of prototyping ; designs of structures and end products ; modelling and time to market . As a result , production expenses have reduced considerably and manufacturers are in a position to offer better products at reasonable prices . As a result of these benefits , the demand for 3D printers is expected to increase in the coming years ,” commented analyst , Grand View Research . The increased demand for customised products across various industries has also fuelled the rise of additive manufacturing ( AM ). AM enables the manufacturing of complex designs that are too difficult or expensive to produce using traditional machining , milling , moulds and dies . It also excels at rapid prototyping , offering a dynamic and design-driven process . AM is ideal for making prototypes quickly using 3D CAD and eliminates the extensive process and associated high costs . Lead times can be halved , compared to conventional methods such as injection moulding , allowing companies to have quicker go-to-market strategies . A printed prototype also enables close examination for modifications and customisations , before embarking on massprinting . This helps companies to save costs before committing to bulk print orders .
“ Additive manufacturing has several advantages such as flexible design , faster production cycle , lower resource requirement and substantial savings on tooling compared to traditional manufacturing technologies such as Computer Numerical Control ( CNC ) machining ; injection moulding and vacuum casting . After 25 years of development , the market has started to move into the production phase . Over the forecast period , businesses along the price chain in a variety of industries are now trying to capitalise on this fast-paced market . Different metals such as titanium , nickel , steel , aluminum and cobalt alloys are being used to make high-performance parts , specifically for
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