Design for additive manufacturing: Benefits, trends and challenges

Abstract

In past five years, there has been a rapid increase in the publication on additive manufacturing (AM). Many technologies have been introduced in a rapidly growing market. The designers are confronted with many challenges in designing products for additive manufacturing. AM offers significant advantages, but there are also many constraints for AM to be used in its full potential. This paper explores trends, issues and challenges in design for AM, including associated costs, design options, quality considerations. It has been found that AM is in its infancy, there is insufficient understanding of the process, method, strategies, tools applied in design for additive manufacturing process, while process quality and capabilities are continuously improving.