The BuildUp | When AM and Established Processes Interconnect
The major development we have been reporting on, for over a decade now, has been additive manufacturing taking its place alongside conventional processes as an accepted means of making production parts (while it also expands the options for manufacturing). But as additive arrives in this way, as it takes this place, we cannot expect that AM will just stand there. VIEW THIS EMAIL IN BROWSER
The major development we have been reporting on, for over a decade now, has been additive manufacturing taking its place alongside conventional processes as an accepted means of making production parts (while it also expands the options for manufacturing).
But as additive arrives in this way, as it takes this place, we cannot expect that AM will just stand there. It will look around. It will interact with the other processes near it.
Those other processes have been doing this all along. No one thinks about whether a given component is purely the work of casting, machining, finishing or assembly — we use them all if the combination is the most efficient choice for the component needed.
And so it is with AM. We are seeing the possibilities start to emerge from the interaction of 3D printing with machining, molding, plating (as in the photo above) and even the business of manufacturing.
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Humtown Additive frequently provides 3D printed sand cores and molds for metal casting as part of a “dual-path” process. Production via casting is performed along both paths, but the short-lead-time 3D printed cores and molds let the customer start production at once while conventional casting tooling is being made in parallel.
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For medical devices, clinical trial involves so many samples that development-stage components are made essentially in production quantities. Resolution Medical uses DLP 3D printing to make medical device components at this stage — components which might then enter full production via additive or via other capabilities like injection molding within the same facility. 3D printed parts might be designed for molding from the outset to allow for either parallel process option.
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Part of what made binder jetting the natural AM process for Smith Metal Products to adopt is the fact that this metal injection molder already operated substantial sintering capacity. Now, MIM parts and binder jet parts both flow to the same sintering furnace.
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Paragon Medical relies on both additive manufacturing and CNC machining to make medical components. Which process is the most effective and economical for a given part is not always obvious or even clear. To make the determination, Paragon lets additive manufacturing and CNC machining compete.
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