Integrated Design Process for Manufacturing

This research focuses on the field of additive manufacturing (AM), which is more commonly referred to as 3D printing. AM encompasses any technology that uses computer-generated design data to build up a part by depositing layers of material. AM is a relatively new addition to the world of product design, although it has been an established technology since late in the twentieth century. Due to its infancy, its uses have been confined to low quantity, laboratory settings since AM behavior is yet to be fully characterized. The benefits of AM are clear; nearly any geometry that can be represented in a 3D computer-aided design (CAD) environment can be created, and the absence of tooling costs make it an attractive concept in comparison to injection molding, machining, and other traditional processes. However, designers are still unsure of how to best use AM technology, and more importantly, when to use AM versus another manufacturing process. Making this determination is a crucial design step that current practices have overlooked, preventing the true advantages of AM to show in some cases.