Additive Manufacturing
What is Additive Manufacturing?
Additive Manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, additive layer manufacturing or rapid prototyping, is defined as the process of joining materials to make parts from 3D CAD files, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing and formative manufacturing methodologies. As its name implies, additive manufacturing adds material to create an object. By contrast, when you create an object by traditional means, it is often necessary to remove material through milling, machining, carving, shaping or other means.
The 7 Additive Manufacturing Processes:
- Power Bed Fusion: Uses either a laser or electron beam to melt and fuse material powder together.
- Directed Energy Deposition: Add or fuse material onto an existing part or to create a new part.
- Binder Jetting: Print a binder onto the powder which “binds” the metal particles together.
- Sheet Lamination: Binds sheets of material to form a part using ultrasonic AM or friction stir welding.
- Material Extrusion: Continuously layered through a nozzle to create the final product or part.
- Material Jetting: Materials that have metal filler inside the plastic “rods” that are extruded.
- Vat Photopolymerization: Photopolymer resin is applied layer by layer and UV light hardens the part.
Will Additive Manufacturing Replace Subtractive Manufacturing?
As one of the newer kids on the engineering block, additive manufacturing has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Many manufacturers have discovered that additive manufacturing and 3D printing are versatile techniques that offer a plethora of benefits. As a result, some manufacturers have turned to additive manufacturing as a replacement for more traditional engineering processes such as machining and casting. But is additive manufacturing likely to replace subtractive manufacturing altogether?
5 Exciting New Applications For Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing
Additive manufacturing is on the up-and-up, with plenty of exciting new developments emerging every week. Now firmly established as a go-to process for many different industries including medical, aerospace and construction, 3D printing has brought about much-needed innovation within the manufacturing sector overall and is quite literally changing the world.
Five Surprising Items That We Bet You Didn't Know Could Be 3D Printed
Now a fixture within a number of industries, additive manufacturing is most commonly used to create prototype parts, as well as low-volume production runs of various components. However, considerable headway is being made within the field, meaning that a number of interesting - and perhaps unusual - designs are being created via 3D printing. Thanks to its ability to create intricate shapes, 3D printing is now being used for a number of purposes. Here are five surprising items that can be 3D printed:
"The process of finding new, trusted suppliers can often take up a lot of time, however, Qimtek takes a chunk of that work away. You don't have to go over the same details time and time again".
Purchasing Department
AGR Automation Ltd
Drag and drop your CAD drawings below to start your additive manufacturing project.
Qimtek has a network of 250 UK-based subcontract manufacturers, some of whom specialise in additive manufacturing. So, if you are looking for someone to speak to about your 3D printing projects, then we can put you in direct contact with additive manufacturing specialists today. How does this work?
"We initially joined the Qimtek membership in order to increase our existing customer base. 14 years later and Rotec have secured lots of initial orders via the membership, with many of these customers, going on to place additional orders directly".
Senior Sales Engineer
Rotec Engineering Ltd
Latest Additive Manufacturing Projects
Here are a few of the latest 3D printing / additive manufacturing projects. Click here to see a full list.
Are you a additive manufacturing supplier looking for new clients?
Become a Supplier Member today to start to receive live additive manufacturing opportunities from the industry buyers who are placing live projects onto our platform, who are inviting you to contact them directly to discuss manufacturing options, pricing and lead times. Below are some of the latest 3D printing projects. Feel free to request the drawings and we will call you to show you around the system before having to commit to anything.