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AsÌýtechnology progresses, often soÌýdoes theÌýway weÌýoperate. WeÌýdevelop new ways andÌýtechniques toÌýperform various tasks. This isÌýeven theÌýcase inÌýtheÌýworld ofÌýmanufacturing, where additive manufacturing has now become much more prominent.

Additive manufacturing was first developed inÌýtheÌý1980s but has since become much more advanced andÌýeasier toÌýimplement. Let’s take aÌýcloser look andÌýexplore what additive manufacturing isÌýandÌýhow valuable itÌýmay become.

What isÌýAdditive Manufacturing?

Many people’s first question isÌýlikely, “What isÌýadditive manufacturing?”

Essentially, additive manufacturing means creating aÌýproduct orÌýobject byÌýadding one layer atÌýaÌýtime until completion.

This isÌýtheÌýopposite ofÌýsubtractive manufacturing, which involves chipping orÌýcutting away atÌýaÌýlarge portion ofÌýraw material until theÌýdesired object isÌýachieved.

AsÌýmentioned above, additive manufacturing was first used inÌýtheÌý1980s. AtÌýthis time, itÌýwas used more toÌýcreate product prototypes quickly. However, these prototypes were far from functional. They were merely toÌýshow what aÌýscale version ofÌýtheÌýproduct would look like. The particular machine that was invented toÌýmake these prototypes was theÌýfirst 3-DÌý±è°ù¾±²Ô³Ù±ð°ù.

Since then, additive manufacturing technologies have only improved, with itÌýnow being anÌýefficient method used byÌýlarge companies like Boeing andÌýGeneral Electric. Moreover, 3-DÌýprinters have become much more advanced andÌýaccessible forÌývirtually anyone toÌýuse.

Types ofÌýAdditive Manufacturing

While itÌýmay seem like all 3-DÌýprinting isÌýtheÌýsame, this isÌýfar from theÌýcase. InÌýfact, there are seven different types ofÌýadditive manufacturing.

Sheet Lamination

isÌýalso referred toÌýasÌýlaminated object manufacturing (LOM). This additive manufacturing process involves joining sheets ofÌýmaterial together toÌýproduce aÌý3-DÌý´Ç²úÂá±ð³¦³Ù.

Sheet lamination begins with laying aÌýsheet ofÌýmaterial such asÌýpaper down andÌýanÌýadhesive isÌýthen rolled across it. After which, another sheet will beÌýlaid onÌýtop ofÌýtheÌýother, bonding them together.

Once theÌýdesired height orÌýdensity ofÌýsheets isÌýachieved, aÌýknife orÌýcomputer-guided laser isÌýused toÌýcut off excess material. There isÌýalso aÌýtype ofÌýsheet lamination called ultrasonic additive manufacturing that uses ultrasonic welding toÌýbond theÌýlayers together.

Material Extrusion

isÌýone ofÌýtheÌýmore common types ofÌýadditive manufacturing. This type involves thermoplastic material pushed through aÌýnozzle toÌýdeposit each layer. ItÌýisÌýtypically theÌýtype used within many 3-DÌýprinters. Specifically, fused filament fabrication (FFF) isÌýtheÌýmost commonly used process.

FFF works byÌýpushing theÌýmaterial through theÌýheated head, which places aÌýlayer based onÌý3DÌýCAD data. This layer sits onÌýaÌýbuild platform, which isÌýthen lowered byÌýone layer forÌýtheÌýnozzle toÌýplace theÌýnext layer over it. Each layer fuses with theÌýother andÌýcools toÌýbond them together. The material used can vary depending onÌýtheÌýtype ofÌýprinter being used. However, theÌýmost common material isÌýthermoplastics.

Material Jetting

features aÌýprint head sitting above theÌýplatform which dispenses material inÌýtheÌýform ofÌýdroplets.

However, itÌýdoesn’t heat theÌýmaterial with theÌýnozzle asÌýmaterial extrusion does. Instead, liquid resin isÌýdispensed, which isÌýthen cured using ultraviolet light. After aÌýlayer isÌýplaced, theÌýUVÌýlight moves over theÌýplatform toÌýcure theÌýlayer. The platform then moves down andÌýbegins theÌýprocess again.

Binder Jetting

, which isÌýalso called drop-on-power printing, can work with several different materials, including composites, ceramics, plastics, andÌýsands.

This process uses powder-based additive manufacturing materials that are deposited onto theÌýbuild platform using aÌýroller. The print head then deposits aÌýliquid binder onto theÌýmaterial toÌýadhere theÌýlayers together.

Powder Bed Fusion

isÌýsimilar toÌýbinder jetting inÌýthat itÌýuses aÌýlayer ofÌýpowder-based material. The difference isÌýthat anÌýelectron beam orÌýlaser fuses theÌýpowder before theÌýnext layer isÌýplaced using aÌýroller orÌýblade.

There are several variants ofÌýpowder bed fusion, but all ofÌýthem use aÌýpre-heated chamber with inert gas inÌýit. This method does tend toÌýtake longer than others, but itÌýisÌýused inÌýseveral known industries, including aviation.

Vat Photopolymerization

isÌýalso commonly referred toÌýasÌýstereolithography. This method uses aÌývat ofÌýliquid photopolymer resin andÌýaÌýUVÌýlight source toÌýcure it. AÌýlaser isÌýused toÌýcreate aÌýshape inÌýtheÌýresin, which isÌýthen cured byÌýtheÌýUVÌýlight. The build platform will then lower toÌýbegin theÌýnext layer.

Vat photopolymerization allows forÌývery detailed projects, but they are often not asÌýstructural asÌýsome other additive manufacturing methods. However, this can often beÌýremedied with support structures. While this isÌýone ofÌýtheÌýfaster additive manufacturing methods, itÌýcomes with quite aÌýbit ofÌýclean-up andÌýprocessing time.

Directed Energy Deposition

(DED) isÌýonÌýtheÌýmore complex side ofÌýadditive manufacturing methods. ItÌýuses anÌýelectron beam orÌýlaser toÌýmelt material, which isÌýthen deposited inÌýtheÌýdesired location. DED isÌýoften employed inÌýrepairs orÌýadditions toÌýparts. The most common materials used inÌýDED are metal powder orÌýwire, but others include ceramics andÌýpolymers. DED offers aÌýhigh degree ofÌýcontrol andÌýaccuracy.

The above additive manufacturing examples are only theÌýcurrent technology. There are already other methods under development, andÌýitÌýisÌýexpected that weÌýwill see even better methods entering theÌýscene down theÌýroad.

Additive Manufacturing Certification

The additive manufacturing market isÌýalready massive, andÌýitÌýisÌýexpected toÌýkeep growing. InÌýfact, theÌýadditive manufacturing industry has been expanding atÌýaÌýmassive rate, with theÌýmarket expected toÌýhit . This has resulted inÌýnumerous additive manufacturing companies looking forÌýemployees with skills andÌýknowledge inÌýtheÌýindustry.

Fortunately, there are now additive manufacturing certification programs that can help those interested make their way into theÌýindustry. For instance, anÌýadditive manufacturing program that allows individuals toÌýachieve certification atÌýaÌýfundamentals orÌýtechnician level.

Ultimately, additive manufacturing offers aÌýmuch easier andÌýmore convenient way forÌýaÌývariety ofÌýindustries toÌýproduce theÌýproducts, parts, andÌýmore they need. With theÌýrapid expansion ofÌýtheÌýindustry, there has never been aÌýbetter time forÌýindividuals toÌýget certified toÌýjoin aÌýcompany orÌýstart one ofÌýtheir own.

WeÌýhope theÌýabove helped you understand theÌýfield ofÌýadditive manufacturing. This isÌýalready anÌýexciting industry andÌýitÌýwill only continue toÌýget better asÌýtechnology improves. Even better, theÌýwide availability ofÌý3-DÌýprinters onÌýtheÌýmarket makes itÌýanÌýeasy field toÌýget started in, even ifÌýitÌýtakes some time toÌýlearn theÌýprocesses.

WeÌýwish you theÌýbest inÌýall ofÌýyour additive manufacturing endeavors!

Looking toÌýLaunch Your Own Additive Manufacturing Business Online?

Are you currently creating products with additive manufacturing orÌýlooking toÌýget into theÌýbusiness? Then, starting your own online store can beÌýaÌýgreat place toÌýbegin marketing andÌýselling your products. Even better, ºÚÁÏÃÅ isÌýhere toÌýhelp you get your store kickstarted. Our selling software makes itÌýeasy toÌýbuild aÌýwebsite, launch aÌýstore, andÌýmanage your orders andÌýmetrics all through one easy-to-use platform.

Looking toÌýlaunch your store onÌýanÌýestablished platform? WeÌýcan help there too! Our software can beÌýintegrated with various selling platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, andÌýmore. This makes itÌýeasy toÌýsee anyÌýofÌýyour storefronts atÌýaÌýglance from one central dashboard.

The best part isÌýthat you can ! Don’t forget toÌýcheck out theÌý toÌýlearn everything you need toÌýknow about starting andÌýrunning aÌýsuccessful online store.

FAQ

What isÌýadditive manufacturing?

Additive manufacturing involves creating aÌý3-DÌýobject byÌýadding aÌýlayer atÌýaÌýtime until itÌýisÌýcomplete.

How many types ofÌýadditive manufacturing are there?

There are seven types ofÌýadditive manufacturing, with these being:

1. Sheet Lamination
2. Material Extrusion
3. Material Jetting
4. Binder Jetting
5. Power Bed Fusion
6. Vat Polymerization
7. Directed Energy Deposition

What isÌýtheÌýbest additive manufacturing method forÌýbeginners?

Most 3-DÌýprinters onÌýtheÌýgeneral market employ material extrusion, which isÌýaÌýgreat place toÌýstart.

Can IÌýstart anÌýadditive manufacturing business?

Absolutely! Many excellent 3-DÌýprinters onÌýtheÌýmarket can beÌýused toÌýcreate products andÌýobjects ofÌýall types. This means you can start your own additive manufacturing business atÌýanyÌýtime, even ifÌýyou need toÌýstart small.

Can you get certified inÌýadditive manufacturing?

Yes! There are numerous courses andÌýprograms forÌýindividuals toÌýpursue knowledge andÌýskills inÌýadditive manufacturing. SME offers aÌýcertification program that allows you toÌýpursue either fundamental orÌýtechnician-level certification depending onÌýyour interest inÌýtheÌýfield.

This can beÌýanÌýexcellent way toÌýget involved inÌýtheÌýindustry. AsÌýaÌýnote, SME isÌýnot theÌýonly certification program out there, soÌýdon’t beÌýafraid toÌýbrowse forÌýone you like. Even several colleges are starting toÌýoffer additive manufacturing programs.

Ìý

• White Label Manufacturing: Producing White Label Products
• Manufacturing Chain: Supply Chain inÌýManufacturing Industry
• What isÌýLean Manufacturing
• What isÌýAdditive Manufacturing
• What isÌýContract Manufacturing
• How toÌýChoose theÌýRight Manufacturing Advisory Service
• Revealing Manufacturing Resource Planning
• Good Manufacturing Practice
• Demystifying theÌýCost ofÌýManufactured Goods
• Design forÌýManufacturing: Creating Products with Precision andÌýStyle
• Website Design forÌýManufacturers
• Innovative Manufacturing Solutions