Additive Manufacturing Also known as 3 D printing

Additive Manufacturing Also known as 3 D printing, is a process that creates a physical object from digital design. It’s a transformation approach to industrial production that enables creation of lighter, stronger parts and systems. AM can bring digital flexibility and efficiency to manufacturing operations.

AM uses data CAD software or 3 D object scanners to direct hardware to deposit material layer by later in precise geometric shapes. As indicated, adds material to create an object. 3 D printing and rapid prototyping are actually subset of AM.

Working: • AM refers technologies that grow 3 D object one superfine layer at a time. • Each successive layer bonds to the preceding layer of melted or partially melted material. • Possible to use different substances for layering material, including metal powder, ceramics, composites, glass and even edibles like choclate. • Objects are defined digitally by CAD software • It’s the st. files that slice the object into ultra thin layers • This info guides the nozzle/print head as it precisely deposits material upon the preceding layer

• A laser/electron beam melts/partially melts in a bed of powdered material • As material cools or are cured, fuse together to from 3 D object

AM processes: • Material extrusion: spooled polymers are extruded/drawn through a heated nozzle mounted on a movable ram. • Direct energy deposition: similar to material extrusion, an electron beam gun/laser mounted on a 4/5 axis arm melts either wire/filament feedstock/powder • Material jetting: print head moves back and forth. It moves on x, y and z axis to create 3 D object. The layers hardens as they cool or cured by ultra-violet light.

• Binder jetting: similar to MJ but that print head lays down alternate layers of powdered material and a liquid binder. • Sheet lamination: Laminated object manufacturing ( LOM ) uses alternate layers of papers and adhesives while Ultra sonic AM uses thin metal sheets conjoined through ultrasonic welding. Ultrasonic AM – low temperature, low energy process. Vat polymerization: Object is created in a vat of a liquid resin photopolymer; - Process called photo polymerization cures each micro-fine resin layer using ultra violet light precisely directed by mirrors.

• Powder bed fusion: Direct metal laser sintering Selective heat sintering Electron beam melting Direct metal laser melting - Uses lasers, electron beams to melt/partially melt ultra fine layers of material in a 3 D space. - Excess powder is blasted away from the object.

Applications: Has been used across diverse array of industries, including: bio-medical aerospace automotive sector