Strategic Implications of Current Trends in Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) has become a serious and potential game-changing method o f manufacturing over the years since the first commercial technology fo r "Rapid Proto typing" in 1988. Even though we are advanced, the current accomplishments are still fa r from the level which can be expected in the future. Innovative approaches toward design are required to capture the fu ll potential o f this technology. This paper describes the advantages and possibilities o f AM technologies, and how they can be used in various sectors (e.g., engineering, automotive, aerospace, medical, and consumer products, etc.) as alternative methods fo r manufacturing energy efficient parts with few er raw materials. To take advantage o f the capabilities o f these technologies, new and enhanced design methods and procedures are required. This paper addresses strategic implications o f widespread adoption o f AM. It also reports how engineers need to change their thinking pattern to be able to use the fu ll potential o f the AM technologies. Engineers should be aware o f the capabilities o f the AM technologies and the available material selections tomake the right decisions at the beginning o f a design process. Also reported herein, in addition to building very complex shapes with various material mixtures, are the capabil ities o f fabricating lattice and hollow-core structures. Reduction o f a product's weight is a great option fo r saving energy and cost, particularly fo r the automotive and aerospace sectors. However, it is still important to ensure the part has the necessary strength. The objective o f the current research is to analyze and prove how certain shapes o f cell struc tures influence the strength and flexibility o f parts. Conclusion address the importance o f understanding the strategic implications on AM fo r government officials, educators, researchers, and industrial leaders.

Alternating Force Based Drop-on-Demand Microdroplet Formation and Three-Dimensional Deposition

“…Drop-on-demand (DOD) technologies for micro-droplet deposition have been widely used in various fields owing to high precision and automation [1][2][3][4][5]; applications range from additive manufacturing [6][7][8][9][10] and electronics applications [11,12] to emerging fields such as pharmacology [13], pathology [14], tissue engineering [15][16][17][18], and biosensor manufacturing [19]. For instance, DOD mode micro-droplet deposition has been employed for high-throughput screening (HTS) applications to increase the efficiency of drug screening and delivery [20][21][22].…”

Efficient Design-Optimization of Variable-Density Hexagonal Cellular Structure by Additive Manufacturing: Theory and Validation

“…[30][31][32][33]. However, these manufacturing difficulties can be overcome by modern AM technology [34][35][36][37][38][39]. Distinct from conventional subtractive manufacturing methods like milling and turning, the AM concept builds mechanical parts or models from material powders or liquid droplets, which are usually fused by a heat source so parts can be formed in a bottom-up manner.…”

The Importance of Additive Manufacturing Processes in Industrial Applications

“…The main key difference between this method and other manufacturing methods is that AM has an "additive" nature rather than a "subtractive" one. For example conventional turning, drilling, milling and grinding operations remove material from the original part to achieve the required shape [2]. AM on the other hand is considered "Additive" since it doesn't require any material removal or waste, thus considered an environmental friendly process [3].…”