Industrial Additive Manufacturing
Industrial additive manufacturing applications are primarily linked to prototyping in the automotive field and early adoption for production in the aerospace segment, which is by far the biggest user of polymer and especially metal 3D printing technologies.
As the machines production throughput has increased in recent years, industrial adoption of AM is now beginning to extend to short and medium batch production for the automotive segment as well. Furthermore, as new metal and polymer technologies now enable the production of larger parts at reduced costs, the use of AM has begun to contaminate the energy segment (with applications in both traditional and sustainable energy production and transport) and the marine segment.
While the cost and time reduction benefits of AM technologies for weight and (topology) optimization, subassemblies and generative part design have been well documented, several hurdles still exist that are limiting a widespread adoption of these key technologies in full end-to-end digital and automated production cycles. Several of these hurdles are inherent to the AM technologies and related material availability, however, the biggest challenges remain linked to process standardization, part finishing and repeatability.
Today every major aerospace or automotive manufacturers has made some significant stride toward adoption of AM both for internal R&D and production and by leveraging external 3D printing service bureaus as a key resource for outsourced supplies. Every AM related industrial project is growing and the trend is clearly accelerating.
Latest industrial AM news:
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GE Additive has been awarded a contract by General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics. GE Additive Print Services will support General Dynamics with part qualification, production, post-processing and inspection of additively manufactured components. General Dynamics Land Systems is developing applications for additive manufacturing on its combat…
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American Magic, a New York Yacht Club challenger for the 36th America’s Cup, is furthering its use of 3D technologies to gain a competitive edge in the world renowned sailing competition. Recently, the company divulged how it is utilizing Creaform’s 3D scanning to simulate and verify boat components. Now, it…
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Composite 3D printing specialist Impossible Objects is not only introducing its latest 3D printer, the CBAM-2, today: the company has lifted the lid on an exciting collaboration with the Utah Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) focused on defense applications. Specifically, UAMMI has successfully fit-checked its first 3D printed carbon…
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Inovus Medical has installed a new production level SLS 3D printer from 3D Systems in its manufacturing facility in St Helens, Merseyside. The laser sintering 3D printer enables the company to produce plastic parts with a finish level that rivals that of injection molding, without the expensive upfront cost of tooling…
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Brady Neiles of South Dakota’s Game, Fish & Parks, has transformed the way wildlife populations are tracked. Using B9Creations 3D printing technology, Neiles created an expandable collar with a tracker – an alternative to surgical implantation, the only tracking method used on juvenile bobcats today. The potential extends far beyond,…
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Behind every great advancement in manufacturing is research: research into new processes, research into new materials and research into new applications. It goes without saying that in an industry as young as additive manufacturing, research is still playing a huge role in the advancement, adoption and industrialization of the technology.…
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Swedish supplier of high pressure solutions Quintus Technologies has introduced a new Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) aimed at accelerating the additive manufacturing process by consolidating various steps in the production process. The new HIP model, QIH 60 M URC, comes with the company’s proprietary Uniform Rapid Cooling technology as well…
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Bombardier Transportation and Stratasys today announced that the transportation leader will be adopting the large-scale Stratasys F900 3D printer for its manufacturing operations in the DACH region (Austria, Germany and Switzerland). Bombardier Transportation will utilize the 3D printer to produce prototypes, tools and end-use parts for trains and trams. The…
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Rail transport company Wabtec Corporation has just announced its investment in GE Additive’s new H2 binder jet 3D printing technology. The 3D printer will be used by the Pennsylvania-based company to print large, complex parts, enabling it to grow its use of additive in the transportation industry. Last month, engine…
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GE Research has developed a quantum-secure Blockchain Network for 3D printing which is capable of managing digital transactions, from powder to finished part. The novel technology was recently recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) which awarded GE Research a 2019 Manufacturing Leadership Award for Supply Chain Leadership. As…
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