ABCtech #08 03JAN14 Advanced Manufacturing

ABCtech #08 03JAN14 Advanced Manufacturing

Advanced Manufacturing and 3D Printing

3D Printing – once expensive with limited applications, is now shaking up the worlds of manufacturing and design. 3D Printing is based on “organic design” and advanced materials technologies. It represents a whole new future for customizing and personalizing manufacturing.

As we move from present-day layered deposition systems such as FDM and SLS to next-level systems that can build complex structures such as buildings and bridges and organic parts – even hearts and ears, the door opens for radical changes in the way we approach design, engineering and construction.

One of the major breakthroughs is the usage of ‘Topology Optimization’ design software, that produces optimal structures far beyond the capabilities of the human mind. By linking this software directly to 3D Printing systems we move away from traditional design engineering and manufacturing techniques such as cnc machining, casting and forging, all which have their inherent limitations. 3D Printing – once developed to the point of producing usable parts, removes these limitations and allows computer design to take on a whole new meaning.

The next 10 years promise to be very exciting as we witness our world changing as a result of this technology. Buildings, objects and even our own bodies might start to look radically different.

The assembly of articles in this Special edition of QuikTech Notes is to help clarify 3D Printing and the breadth and depth expected – another emerging opportunity for Alberta enterprise.

– Nathan Armstrong,President: Freespace Composites 
  Director : Alberta Council of Technologies – portfolio: Advanced. Manufacturing & Aerospace

<   12 QUESTIONS   >

1. What is 3D Printing?

2. Is 3D Printing disruptive?

3. Is Digital manufacturing just a lotta hype?  ALSO

4. What materials work – a role for composites?  ALSO  AND

5. Can composites be delivered as a continuous stream? ALSO

6. If not now, when?

7. Is 3D Printing legal?

8. Is 3D Printing an IP threat?

9. Will traditional manufacturing survive?

10. What are the investment prospects?

11. Is 3D Printing an enterprise opportunity?

12. Where can I buy my first printer?

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