What is additive manufacturing?
The way we manufacture and design products has changed drastically with additive manufacturing. Through this method, consumers can influence product development, design, delivery and logistics.
Additive manufacturing is a manufacturing method where a 3D printer is used to build a three-dimensional component based on a CAD model. The only thing required in additive manufacturing is a 3D printer and the material with which the object is to be created. Additive manufacturing is an ideal manufacturing method for creating objects with complex geometries in a variety of materials, including metals, plastics and ceramics. There are a variety of manufacturing methods, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Here you can read about some of the most common methods, as well as how they are applied in industry and research.
Advantages of additive manufacturing
The advantages of additive manufacturing are many. This type of manufacturing is very efficient and uses less material than traditional manufacturing, which means less spillage and wastage of materials. In addition, additive manufacturing is a very flexible technology, which makes it possible to quickly change products or manufacturing processes.
Some of the advantages of this manufacturing process are:
- Great scope for variety and complexity at no extra cost
- Possibility to produce details and components that are not possible with traditional methods
- The amount of spillage is greatly reduced
- Fast and efficient production of prototypes at low cost
The different processes in additive manufacturing
There are several different types of additive manufacturing processes, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The most common processes are FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and SLA (Stereolithography).
FDM is the most common method. It works by extruding thermoplastic through a nozzle and in this way the object is built up layer by layer, which in turn slowly builds up the object. FDM is relatively fast and cheap, but the objects it produces are not as strong or detailed as those produced by other additive manufacturing processes.
SLS is a more expensive and complex additive manufacturing process. It works by sintering (heating) a layer of powder material, such as metal or plastic, with a laser. The laser selectively fuses the powder's particles together and slowly builds up the object layer by layer. SLS is more expensive than FDM, but it can produce stronger and more detailed objects.
SLA is suitable for visualization models where there are high demands on surface finish and detail. SLA is a resin-based process where liquid is hardened by one or more light beams into the desired shape. The quality of the surfaces is already very high immediately after printing, but can be further improved to achieve transparent or high-gloss results for chromating and varnishing of various kinds. The materials for SLA are thermoplastics, which means that they are relatively brittle and sensitive to UV light and moisture.
This is how additive manufacturing is applied today
Additive manufacturing is a process of creating physical objects from digital 3D models. The advantage of using this method over traditional manufacturing methods is that it enables the creation of highly customized and complex products without the need for expensive tools or molds.
Additive manufacturing is a process of creating physical objects from digital 3D models. The advantage of using the method over traditional manufacturing methods is that it enables the creation of highly customized and complex products without the need for expensive tools or materials.
As the technology continues to develop, it is likely that in the future we will see even more innovative and exciting applications of additive manufacturing.
Additive manufacturing in industry
In the beginning, additive manufacturing was mainly used for prototypes and small-scale production. In recent years, however, there has been a change in the form of using additive manufacturing for mass production in various industries. There are several reasons for this change. First, additive manufacturing technology has become much more advanced and capable of producing high-quality products. Second, additive manufacturing can be used to produce complex shapes and structures that would be difficult or impossible to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. Finally, additive manufacturing is often more cost-effective than traditional manufacturing methods, especially when producing small series of products.
Additive manufacturing is used in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, aerospace, automotive and consumer goods. In the healthcare industry, additive manufacturing is used to manufacture customized implants and prostheses. In the aerospace industry, it is used to make lightweight components for aircraft and spacecraft. In the automotive industry, additive manufacturing is used to make car parts, including engine parts and body panels. And in the consumer goods industry, additive manufacturing is used to produce items such as jewelry and eyeglass frames.
The future of additive manufacturing
The future of additive manufacturing looks very promising. With the rapid development we see today, additive manufacturing is becoming more and more accessible to both companies and individuals. In the future, we will certainly be able to see more innovative solutions using additive manufacturing. If we are to keep it short, we believe that the future for 3D printing looks like this:
- More companies will embrace additive manufacturing
- We will see more personalized and customized products
- Additive manufacturing will become even cheaper
- The technology will continue to develop at a rapid pace
Although it is difficult to predict exactly what role this manufacturing technology will play in the future, it is undeniably looking very bright, and what can be said with certainty is that additive manufacturing is a manufacturing technology that is here to stay.
