Additive Manufacturing in the Context of Repeatability and Reliability

Abstract

Additive manufacturing has long enabled complex and less restrictive design capabilities in the world of modern manufacturing. However, industry applications require extensive analysis into reliability concerns over repeatability that currently prevent the technology from maturing to an adequate, widespread production method. With current research focus expanding on additive manufacturing technologies, a need has developed to ensure repeatability in already established methods. This paper reviews the current certification landscape surrounding additive components as well as similarly variable manufacturing processes as baselines for comparison. Next, concerns in the repeatability of additive manufacturing methods are outlined for both their occurrences and effects. Lastly, methods of verification and current developments in design and verification methodologies are presented with the aim of analyzing potential future developments to aid industry adoption of additive manufacturing.