Defining Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process by which objects are created by going from one layer to another. Essentially additive manufacturing means you build up the product in layers. Additive manufacturing can be applied to a range of materials, such as metal and plastic, as well as concrete and Kevlar.

In the relatively short existence of additive manufacturing, its range of applications has already been tested and expanded. One of the more common uses is to prototype a product, so you can get an idea of what it’ll look like before scrambling to produce a larger version. Other common uses include one-off products made to order or highly customized parts with mass production not necessary due to cost and specific requirements. There are heaps of other potential applications for this technology.

Additive manufacturing is a technology that comes in many forms. Different companies produce different models based on the type of additive manufacturing being done. This is one of the reasons it can be confusing when people use the same term for multiple processes. Here are some of the most common forms of additive manufacturing :-

⭐ SLA (Stereo-lithography)

This is a high-tech process that uses laser technology. SLA utilizes laser technology to cure multiple layers of photo-polymer resin. To put it simply, photo-polymers are materials that have thermos-plastic properties, meaning they change when they’re exposed to light.

⭐ FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling)

Additive manufacturing is a process oriented type of manufacturing that involves the use of thermoplastic materials. These materials are injected through nozzles and onto a platform, with the process boundlessly repeated layer after layer until the final product is created. The process of additive manufacturing can be very mesmerizing to watch as you’ll see an object become completely solid from nothingness in mere minutes.

⭐ MJM (Multi Jet Modelling)

MJM or multi-jet modelling is similar to how an ink-jet printer works. This type of printer moves backwards and forwards and can use hundreds of small jets that print thermos-polymer materials in much the same way as an ink-jet printer lays on ink onto paper. 

⭐ Benefits of Additive Manufacturing

Do you know what additive manufacturing is? We appreciate the many advantages that new production techniques can have when compared to traditional methods.

The advantage of additive manufacturing comes from the variety of technologies that are used. While each technology has its own advantages, they also have advantages in common because they share a methodology.

⭐ Reduction in the amount of material used

AM starts from the ground up, meaning it starts with material, such as steel or plastics. Creating parts additively uses only the materials necessary. This process also limits waste and tooling costs – which means less material is needed in production.

⭐ Energy Savings

Conventional manufacturing requires machinery and equipment with high energy needs which often result in waste production during production. AM only requires a few raw materials or tools so manufacturing waste is also low, meaning there’s less energy needed to extract raw materials and less need for additional equipment. Because of this, less energy is use when producing one manufactured product.

⭐ Accelerated Prototyping

When you need to create many prototypes of a new product design and need them soon, AM can get the job done. Through our high-speed modeling process, you can make alterations and see the result seamlessly. You’ll save both time and money with AM when developing products. Traditional CAD models are expensive and inefficient, which is why we focus on digital design modifications.

⭐ Legacy Parts

AM has gifted companies the ability to recreate legacy parts that are difficult and expensive to find now. For example, classic car restoration has been greatly helped by AM technology. Instead of searching for rare or no longer manufactured parts, said parts can be recreated through the scanning and X-ray analysis of original material and parts. With CAD software, this process not only facilitates fast and easy reverse engineering but also helps in the replication of originals.

Follow Milestone PLM Solutions for Mechanical Industry Updates, CAD Tips and Global CAD, CAM & FEA News. 

Milestone PLM Solutions  with its exclusive delivery center in India is a global CAD, CAM & FEA services outsourcing partner serving the needs of the Mechanical, Millwork and Automotive industry since 2004. MILESTONE focuses on the unique needs of clients and believe in tackling real-life problems with efficiency, smooth and ease.

The MILESTONE team can assist you with Product Design, 3d Modeling, Drafting & detailing, Reverse Engineering, FEA Analysis and more. We support multiple software including AutoCAD, Solidworks, Catia, NX, Inventor, Solidedge & Ansys etc. Our approach is to provide a dedicated team for each customer over ongoing project and deliver the quality output consistently.

With our state of art technology and large talent pool of Engineers, we are developing best in class solutions for our customers across the globe. We align with your culture and values to form unbreakable partnerships and are primed for success with over 100 employees and 150 customers in the US, Europe, India, and Asia.

For more queries regarding any of the above-mentioned topics, feel free to connect with us on our website www.milestonetech.net or contact us on  +1-844-598-0005