By Adam Kimmel
Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, translates computer-aided design (CAD) data directly into a manufactured part, eliminating the drawing step and avoiding manufacturing tolerance mismatches. With a 2018 market size of approximately $8 billion, the technology is well-suited to meet the increasing market pressure to decrease sample lead times. Ideally, AM also can reduce the amount of scrap material by building up only the final design without cutting it out of raw material. To reach this end goal, designers should be trained on how best to design for additive manufacturing.
This manufacturing process fits the definition of disruptive innovation and has proven applications across multiple industries. However, the full-scale move from traditional fabrication methods (such as laser and waterjet cutting) to an entirely additive approach is not trivial. This guide describes how a company can go about incorporating the newest AM techniques to its manufacturing process, and how to leverage this disruptive technology to improve lead times, cost, performance, and overall manufacturing flow.
This guide includes:
- Critical background and details on industry-changing technologies
- Change Checklists that cover what your company should consider before adopting these technologies
- Case studies that illustrate successful implementation
- Stats and figures on each industry and what engineers can do to drive them forward into new areas
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