ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
DESIGN TO PRINT
Additive manufacturing enables a design-driven manufacturing process, with new levels of design freedom, where design determines production and not the other way around.
“ We outline the benefits, challenges, growth forecasts and new design possibilities for manufacturers from the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies.”
Left: 3D-printed impeller from Sandvik. Right: 3D-printed guitar.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of global manufacturing supply chains and the need to develop technologies and methods to support disruption-resilient manufacturing. One such resilient technology is additive manufacturing( AM), the process of creating a physical model of a digital CAD 3D model by building up layers of material using a 3D printer. Compared with 3D printing, AM is typically associated with industrial and manufacturing applications.
However, AM is not a stand-in for traditional manufacturing methods but a new way of looking at product design. It enables manufacturers to create designs that could not be produced using traditional manufacturing processes. Prototyping applications are prevalent, as additive manufacturing allows for quick iterations and design improvements. Industries such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare, energy and consumer goods are embracing additive manufacturing to streamline production processes, reduce waste and enable complex designs that were previously unattainable.
AM is a rapidly evolving field; parts can be designed faster with increased flexibility, better materials and optimised efficiency.
It can also provide reduced product lifetime ownership costs through more efficient products and reduced through-life maintenance. Sustainability benefits come through the efficient use of materials and new supply chains. Common metals employed include steel; titanium; aluminium and cobalt chrome alloy. Additive manufacturing metals typically come in powder form, either as loose powders or bound together with a binder material.
“ Metal additive manufacturing holds the potential to revolutionise the way we manufacture products and reduce material
18 | ismr. net | ISMR April 2025