insider
of the technology, including modelling and prototyping,
opinion
patterns and tooling, and the production of custom, semi-
custom and special edition products, as well as short-run
and series production.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
The industry has enjoyed a number of other interesting
developments over the past year. Among them are:
THE BEST OF 2009
circle6Metal sintering/melting is now being viewed as a viable,
production-capable process in the biomedical and
aerospace markets. This was not the case until recently.
“
The Additive Manufacturing (AM) industry continues to
impress me, even in these tough economic times. circle6The flight of an aluminum part made by additive
Organisations, particularly in the US and Europe, continue manufacturing on a manned aircraft occurred earlier this
...the AM industry to introduce a stream of new products and services. This is year by Airbus. This is a first. The part, produced on a
a strong display of optimism from the top management of machine by Concept Laser, is roughly the size and shape
has suffered an
these companies and investors. of an American football and is used for engine air intake.
identity crisis...
Meanwhile, the AM industry has suffered an identity crisis. circle6For the first time, a number of custom consumer
Names such as
Those close to it have been uncertain about what to call the products are available for purchase from multiple AM
technology and the industry. Names such as additive sources. Examples are Shapeways, FigurePrints and
additive fabrication, additive layer manufacturing and freeform Spore Sculptor.
fabrication have been used, but none are universally
fabrication,
accepted. Many continue to use 'rapid prototyping' to refer circle6The dental market is beginning to follow the hearing aid
additive layer
to the technology and industry, but prototyping is only one market in its adoption of the AM technology. A dental
application, and that is really what it is — an application. technician can typically produce 8–10 crowns per day
manufacturing
Fortunately, the problem is in the early stages of resolving using conventional methods of manufacturing. Using the
itself, which I will explain in a moment. EOSINT M 270, it is possible to manufacture 380 cobalt-
and freeform chrome copings, which lead to crowns and bridges, in
The industry has also been in need of direction, especially 20 hours. About 70 CoCr copings can be made in eight
fabrication have
in the US. Multi-year projects in Europe have helped to hours using MTT's selective laser melting process.
been used,
bring together countries and organisations in this region,
but nothing similar has occurred in the US in recent years, circle6In Q4 2008, chemicals giant Huntsman Advanced
but none are
until now. An event titled Roadmap for Additive Materials (Switzerland) surprised many when it
Manufacturing (RAM) Workshop was held in March 2009, announced the development of an entirely new AM
universally in Washington DC. Its purpose was to develop a roadmap
process and machine based on MLS MicroLightSwitch
for research over the next 10–12 years. Sixty-five experts technology. It uses 40,000 microshutters and a raster
accepted.
from academia, private industry and government were approach to direct UV light onto the surface of
invited to attend this important event. Together, they photopolymer. The machine is expected to ship in
developed 26 recommendations and published a report that Q4 2009.
”
can be downloaded at:
wohlersassociates.com/roadmap2009.html. circle6Low-cost systems were introduced from two leading
companies. Stratasys began to ship its uPrint machine
In January 2009, a group of more than 70 individuals from for $14,900 early in the year, while 3D Systems began to
the US, Europe, Japan and South Africa approved the ship its long awaited V-Flash system for $9,900. Both
formation of an official ASTM International Committee to systems require post-processing units that are sold
create consensus standards around AM technologies. The separately.
need for industry standards has been discussed for more
than a decade. In the spirit of cooperation and with a sense circle6Open-source systems from a number of organisations
of urgency, standards are now being developed around AM began to heat up in 2009. The open-source concept
terminology, testing, processes, materials and design, originated in the world of software, with Linux being one
including file formats. Creating standard methods of testing of the best examples. With open-source 3D printers,
and comparing additive systems and materials is arguably anyone can download plans made available on the web
Terry Wohlers
the most important activity of this effort. In the foreseeable and build a system. Bits from Bytes and Makerbot
future, users of these systems will have standards that Industries have introduced AM systems based on the
The Principal Consultant and guide them through a process that has been, at best, RepRap open-source project. KoBa Industries has
President of Wohlers Associates,
haphazard in the past. commercialised the Fab@Home development, while Evil
Inc., an independent consulting
firm he founded 23 years ago.
Mad Science has developed the CandyFab open-source
Through this company, Wohlers Through a process of consensus, the ASTM group chose system.
has provided consulting assistance
'additive manufacturing' as the generic, catch-all term for
to more than 150 organisations in
21 countries. In 2007, Wohlers
the technology and industry. Additive manufacturing, as We enter 2010 with hopeful anticipation, but with some
was voted the most influential
defined by the Committee, is the joining of materials to uncertainty mixed in. As our industry deals with a
person in Rapid Product make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, challenging worldwide economy, I believe it will strengthen
Development and Rapid
as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies. It as it seizes new opportunities and responds to pent-up
Manufacturing.
is important to understand that AM includes all applications demand for systems, materials and services.
tct 17/6 17
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