WHAT ARE THE APPLICATIONS OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING?

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2021-12-22 16:03:00

As additive manufacturing tech has progressed, 3D printed parts have moved decidedly outside the R&D arena and onto the production line. These essential processes are developing and delivering concepts previously unattainable in the manufacturing world.

Entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 organizations and large OEMs have accepted the advanced enterprise of 3D printing to satisfy their tough performance standards and needs. As organizations have designed for additive manufacturing and used it as a complement to conventional manufacturing, new applications have entered into the scene and changed what’s conceivable.

There are five industries precisely where the amazing capabilities of additive manufacturing have transformed production:

Medical
The rapidly innovating medical industry is using additive manufacturing solutions to deliver breakthroughs to specialists, patients, and research institutions. Medical manufacturers are using a wide range of high-strength and biocompatible 3D printing materials, from unbending to flexible and hazy to transparent, to modify designs like never before.

From practical prototypes and true-to-life anatomical models to surgical grade components, additive manufacturing is making way for unforeseen advancements and life-saving devices. Some applications revolutionizing the medical industry are orthopedic implant devices, pre-surgery models from CT scans, dental devices, custom saw and drill guides, enclosures, and specialized instrumentation.

Material development is additionally essential in this industry – the more validation of biocompatible materials and the methods utilized to manufacture parts could open the door for more customized implants, life-saving devices, and pre-surgical tools that increase patient outcomes.
Benefits of Additive manufacturing for medical:

• Personalized healthcare
• Enhanced medical devices

Energy
Success in the energy industry depends on rapidly developing tailored, mission-critical elements that can withstand extreme conditions. Additive manufacturing’s advancements in producing efficient, lightweight, on-demand components and environmentally friendly materials give answers for diverse needs and field functions.
Some crucial applications that have emerged from the gas, oil, and energy sectors include rotors, turbine nozzles, stators, down-hole tool components and models, flow meter parts, mud motor models, fluid/water flow analysis, pressure gauge pieces, pump manifolds, and control-valve components.

With the advancement in corrosion-resistant metal materials for customized parts that might require going underwater or in other harsh environments, there is no telling what major energy companies may accomplish with additive manufacturing.

Aerospace
Aerospace organizations were considered to be the first to adopt additive manufacturing. Some of the most demanding sector performance standards exist in this realm, needing parts to hold up in tough conditions. Engineers designing and manufacturing commercial and military aerospace platforms should consider flight-worthy components made from high-performance materials.

With ITAR registration, Truventor’s Additive Manufacturing has seen a wide range of innovative designs that transform the production of aerospace parts for a significant organization. Common applications incorporate environmental control systems (ECS) ducting, rocket engine components, combustor liners, custom cosmetic aircraft interior components, tooling for composites, oil and fuel tanks, and UAV elements.

3D printing delivers a complex yet consolidated parts with high strength. Consolidated designs and less material reduce overall weight, which is one of the most crucial factors in manufacturing for Aerospace. The advantages of additive manufacturing for the major organization continue to push forward the innovative designs and applications for the world of flight.

Benefits of Additive Manufacturing for Aerospace:

• Low-volume production
• Material efficiency
• Part consolidation
• Weight reduction

Consumer Products
For graphic artists, designers, and marketing teams, the time it takes to form an idea and launch it to the market is about everything. Part of that time is spent on simulating the final product’s look and feel during design feedback to prove ideas to stakeholders. Consumer product manufacturers have adopted 3D printing to assist in developing iterations and fast adjust the design.

3D printing is significant for manufacturing detailed consumer electronics early in the PDCL (Product development life cycle) with realistic functionality. Sporting goods have already benefited from early iterations delivered rapidly and with fine details. Other effective applications include entertainment props and costumes, lightweight models and sets, and finely detailed architectural models.

Benefits of Additive manufacturing for consumer products:

• Faster time-to-market
• Enhanced product development
• Mass customization

Transportation
Life in the fast lane simply means endurance to challenge environments such as extreme speeds and heat. The transportation sector requires parts that stand up to rigid testing and is lightweight to avoid any unnecessary drag. With a variety of rugged, high-temperature materials and additive manufacturing innovation, and the ability to build very complex geometries, transportation organizations are just scratching the surface of what can be made using additive manufacturing for their vehicles.

We have assisted automotive suppliers and organizations in developing consolidated, lightweight components that prompt more efficient vehicles. Some of the applications that have changed the industry incorporate complex ductwork that cannot be fabricated with conventional manufacturing techniques, elastomeric models, resilient prototypes, grilles, extensive paneling, and custom interior features.

The ongoing advancements in 3D printing have additionally opened up new opportunities for end-user and mass customization applications. One of the most powerful applications realized today is the opportunity to reproduce aftermarket parts for restoring classic cars.

Conclusion
Additive manufacturing is utilized in many other industries other than the primary ones we mentioned above. 3D printing is without any doubt a technology that makes it possible to overcome unique obstacles and complexities, with an ordinary example being seen in space exploration as additive manufacturing provides a new opportunity to discover space’s richness with new satellites or, potentially, the making of our own moon bases.
Moreover, 3D printing offers more robotics solutions by enabling the rapid manufacturing of more productive and realistic robots, regardless of whether by makers or professionals. As additive manufacturing turns out to be more and more democratized and more accessible, we can see dramatic increases in developments within sports, music, and even in the lives of our furry friends!

Changing the paradigm of “design for manufacturing” to “design for function” will change the way we experience improvements of future components and improve the system’s performance.

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