A decision support method for evaluation and process selection of Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is still immature in most application areas. Lack of knowledge among potential users is a key barrier for AM uptake. There is therefore a significant need for methods, frameworks and tools that will enable potential users to effectively identify if AM would fit their specific case, and subsequently select the right AM process for their needs. This work aims at presenting a framework and a method for assisting potential users in the evaluation and eventual uptake of AM. The framework comprises three discreet levels. Level 1 regards self-evaluation of different AM technologies, replying to the question of AM being potentially beneficial for a specific use case. At Level 2, the framework validates the technical feasibility of AM for a specific part, supporting the user towards deciding the appropriate AM technologies for his specific use case. Level 3 is addressing manufacturability issues, by analyzing the design and proposing manufacturing of certain features with a combination of additive and subtractive manufacturing where necessary.