Design for Additive Manufacturing

Catalog description

Additive manufacturing (AM, colloquially 3D printing) is rapidly changing the face of modern manufacturing. This layer-by-layer manufacturing approach allows for parts to be created with significant levels of complexity and in cost-effective small batches, with reduced raw material waste when compared with traditional manufacturing processes. This technology has given rise to the need for Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) techniques capable of accounting for both the possibilities and restrictions offered by AM in product design. However, due to the relative youth of the technology, understanding of how to properly establish and evaluate these design considerations is still evolving. In this course, students will be exposed to research in the field of DfAM that aims to establish an understanding of both opportunistic possibilities (e.g., lattice structures, topology optimization, and mass customization) and quantify restrictive limitations (e.g., minimum feature size and support material removal) when designing products for creation with additive manufacturing. The material will be presented through a combination of literature investigations and design exercises viewed through the lens of research in the DfAM field. The objectives of the course include describing the role that DfAM plays in the greater field of additive manufacturing, identifying similarities and differences between existing DfAM approaches and frameworks, synthesizing opportunistic DfAM approaches and how they improve product quality and novelty, identifying and quantifying restrictive DfAM considerations through experimentation, and identifying and discussing key areas of future research to advance the field of DfAM.