#ADDITIVEINSIGHTS

A Fond Farewell to My Additive Friends

In his final “Additive Insights” column, Tim Simpson reflects on how additive manufacturing has progressed in the last six years. Standards and software are two examples.

Timothy W. Simpson
Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design & Manufacturing, Pennsylvania State University

Additive Manufacturing

Examining Productivity Gains Set to Transform Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing is in its second hype cycle, with companies weighing its endless design capabilities against cost and production output.

Additive Manufacturing

How Additive Manufacturing Could Reach its Next 'Plateau of Productivity'

Integrated digital production set to transform additive manufacturing.

Additive Manufacturing

Additive Mindset Can Aid Machinists

The mindset for additive flips subtractive thinking inside out.

Additive Manufacturing

Using Topology Optimization to Lightweight: A Paradox for Machining

Today’s computer software can just as easily generate lightweight shapes for subtractive processes as it can for additive ones, but it increases cost and waste to make them.

Additive Manufacturing

Is Additive Freeing Designers or Aiding Manufacturers?

A shift toward maximizing AM benefits for manufacturers, not only product designers and process engineers, will help AM take off.

Additive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing to the Rescue — Again

AM is the perfect candidate to solve production problems that began during the pandemic.

Additive Manufacturing

Go Digital: How to Succeed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution With Additive Manufacturing

The digitalization of manufacturing is set to transform production and global supply chains as we know them, and additive manufacturing has been leading the way in many industries.

Timothy W. Simpson
Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design & Manufacturing, Pennsylvania State University

Additive Manufacturing

Does Manufacturing Need Additive?

If a subtractive manufacturing operation is going smoothly, AM need not replace it. So what is AM good for, and why do we need it in the first place?

Additive Manufacturing

Updated Definition Makes Way for AM Part Production

Additive manufacturing is finding its footing, and a new standard definition in ISO/ASTM 52900:2021 shows that AM is for more than prototyping.

Additive Manufacturing

Reframing Post-Processing for Additive Manufacturing

Post-processing for additive manufacturing can add time and cost to production – but it can also mitigate risks.

Additive Manufacturing

Smart, Fast Prototyping Informs Redesign for AM

Rapid intelligent prototyping can reveal how best to proceed when developing design guidelines for additive manufacturing.

Additive Manufacturing

How Prototyping Addresses Unknowns and Reduces Risks

One benefit of metal AM is the capability to create functional prototypes in less time, enabling you to rapidly iterate on design alternatives during development.

Additive Manufacturing

Adopting a Growth Mindset for Additive Manufacturing

Failures can help us learn, especially in the case of additive manufacturing. Breaking down psychological barriers like fear of failure can help AM users succeed.

Additive Manufacturing

Saving Time and Money on the Shop Floor with AM

The ways additive manufacturing is presented sometimes miss the most practical and valuable ways it can be used.

Timothy W. Simpson
Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design & Manufacturing, Pennsylvania State University

Additive Manufacturing

Another Giant Leap for AM — New Standards

Additive manufacturing standards help bring order and clarity to a burgeoning and chaotic field. Recently, many new ones have emerged.

Additive Manufacturing

One Small Step for Metals, One Giant Leap for AM

Eliminating support structures for metal parts expands pathways to profitable AM.

Additive Manufacturing

The Challenge with AM Process Substitution

Making a one to one replacement of a part with AM is rarely cost-effective. Approaches like MFAM can improve the cost curve for AM, as Tim Simpson illustrates.

Additive Manufacturing

Balancing MfAM and DfAM for Metal Additive Manufacturing

For viable metal AM, users must balance design for additive manufacturing (DfAM), modifying for additive manufacturing (MfAM) and cost per kilogram.

Additive Manufacturing

Plotting a Pathway to Profitable Additive Manufacturing

The cost per pound for a metal AM part may be shocking, but that knowledge is essential to plan a journey to success with Additive Manufacturing.

Additive Manufacturing

Profitable Additive Manufacturing Is Not an Oxymoron

How a kangaroo, a chest implant and the cost of argon prompted a question that led to the subject of this month’s column.

Additive Manufacturing

Little Wins Create Value in Additive Manufacturing

How to create value with a multi-level approach to additive manufacturing.

Timothy W. Simpson
Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design & Manufacturing, Pennsylvania State University

Additive Manufacturing

Beginning Your AM Journey: One Part to Begin the Path

Identifying the right part to begin your additive manufacturing path can demonstrate and validate the AM workflow, provide a benchmark for future work and more.

Additive Manufacturing