Introduction to 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. In this class, students will be introduced to the core design advantages behind DfAM at the desktop printer scale, including lattice structures, topology optimization, and mass customization. Students will learn how to balance these opportunities with the limitations inherent to AM process types, including minimum feature sizes and support material removal. Throughout the course, students will be tasked with applying specific DfAM concepts to improve end-use product design. The objectives of the course include demonstrating the workflow for creating objects with desktop AM, identifying proper use of AM in the design process, describing the role of the digital thread, utilizing the concepts of geometric complexity and mass customization, and identifying the limits and challenges imposed by desktop-scale AM on design.