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1: Fundamentals of Additive Manufacturing

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    46488
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    • 1.0: Introduction
      Additive manufacturing is a modern production technique that builds items layer by layer, contrasting with traditional subtractive methods. This innovation significantly alters production processes, allowing for the creation of complex objects and transforming contemporary manufacturing practices.
    • 1.1: The Components and Processes of of Additive Manufacturing
      This page provides an overview of additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, highlighting its four key components: Machines, Materials, Digital workflows, and People. It stresses the significance of the concept stage in design and the STL file format for representing 3D models. While the STL format simplifies surface geometry, it does not capture color or material details.
    • 1.2: Additive Manufacturing Processes
      This page provides an overview of the seven standard additive manufacturing processes: Binder Jetting, Directed Energy Deposition, Material Extrusion, Material Jetting, Powder Bed Fusion, Sheet Lamination, and Vat Photopolymerization. It explains their defining characteristics, including layer creation, energy application, and material types such as metals, ceramics, and polymers. The page also notes ongoing innovations that lead to hybrid processes in additive manufacturing.
    • 1.3: The TBGA AM Maturity Model
      This page outlines the AM Maturity Model from Barnes Global Advisors, detailing a structured approach for adopting additive manufacturing (AM) across product lifecycles. It describes five levels of AM use, progressing from prototyping (Level 0) to creating economically viable complex parts (Level 4).
    • 1.4: Reasons for Using AM
      This page details the learning objectives and benefits of additive manufacturing (AM), emphasizing its effects on project management aspects like schedule, scope, and cost. Key advantages include reduced production time and costs, design flexibility, durability, and environmental benefits. Various industries, such as aerospace and medical, are adopting AM to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
    • 1.5: Summary
      This page discusses Additive Manufacturing (AM) as a family of evolving technologies contributing to society. It highlights four key concepts: Disruptive (requiring new thinking), Diverse (encompassing various technologies), Deployed (focusing on organizational implementation), and Developing (emphasizing interdisciplinary foundations to reduce risk). These principles are essential for effectively understanding and adopting AM technologies.
    • 1.6: Review Questions
      This page summarizes the fundamentals of additive manufacturing (AM), covering its four essential components: machines, materials, digital workflows, and human factors. It highlights the significance of AM thinking, the use of polymers and metals, various AM processes, and file formats such as STL.
    • 1.7: Discussion Questions
      This page clarifies the difference between 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing. 3D printing is a more specific term focused on creating objects layer by layer for hobbyist or small-scale purposes. In contrast, Additive Manufacturing is a broader concept that includes industrial processes aimed at large-scale production, utilizing advanced materials and technologies, particularly in sectors like aerospace, automotive, and medical.
    • 1.8: Key Terms
      This page discusses additive manufacturing, emphasizing the STL file format and various methods such as Binder Jetting, Material Extrusion, Directed Energy Deposition, Material Jetting, Powder Bed Fusion, Sheet Lamination, and Vat Photopolymerization.


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