What's the Big Idea in Additive Manufacturing?

Those of us who use or write about additive manufacturing (AM) are often so close to the topic that it can be hard to appreciate its evolution — not just as a set of technologies, but also toward becoming a commonly used mode of production.

When we get too close to a topic in this way, sometimes the best thing to do is step back and seek out a broader perspective. So, beginning this month, the editors at Additive Manufacturing Magazine are going to do just that.

In a limited series through the IMTS spark network, Pete Zelinski, Stephanie Hendrixson and I (bio here) will spotlight important themes related to AM that promise to change manufacturing in a big way.

The series, called “Big Ideas in Additive Manufacturing,” begins on November 30 with a deep dive into additive manufacturing’s unrivaled power at providing tooling for conventional production. We’ll walk through examples of how 3D-printed tooling — parts such as assembly fixtures, mold cores, cavities and inserts, end effectors and workholding devices — are not only crucial to production across several industrial sectors, but also represent the way that many companies are introduced to AM. While the immediate cost and lead-time savings that 3D-printed tooling provides to companies are important to bottom lines, they also help change mindsets and cultures at companies that have no experience with AM.  

Then, on January 6, we’ll switch gears to focus on metal 3D printing — an established mode of making metal parts that is succeeding in new applications each day. We’ll talk about the state of metal AM today, including challenges related to capital costs and technological complexities, as well as the benefits that are inherent to metal AM such as design freedoms and the consolidation of parts. We’ll also dig into the latest metal 3D printing technologies, including binder jetting, wire arc AM, ultrasonic AM and metal material extrusion, and talk about where these technologies are gaining a foothold as go-to methods of production.

And finally, on February 1, we’ll wrap things up by surveying the frontiers of manufacturing — the extreme applications of additive manufacturing that go well beyond what any other production process could deliver. 3D-printed machine tools? Metal AM parts on Mars? Large-scale concrete printers that can automate building construction? We’ll examine the ways in which scientists and engineers are pushing AM to its limits.

This series and other programming on IMTS spark run through early 2021, and registration is free. Visit IMTS.com/spark to register, find supplier showrooms and networking opportunities and to check out the agenda.