Polymer AM
Additive Manufacturing — More Than Metal: How Vat Photopolymerization Started It All
Vat photopolymerization was the first AM process to be successfully commercialized. Three decades later, this technology has shown how AM is capable of scaling to volume production and making custom products on demand.
July 11, 2019 - Timothy W. Simpson
Additive Manufacturing and Metal Casting
How is additive manufacturing disrupting metal casting? A hybrid approach to consider.
July 4, 2019 - Timothy W. Simpson
Hybrid Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing for Hard Tooling
Hybrid manufacturing is enabling tooling to be made with additive processes.
June 27, 2019 - Timothy W. Simpson
Hybrid Manufacturing
Combining Additive and Subtractive Processes for Hybrid Manufacturing
At this point, we are still learning how to combine the two to optimize hybrid manufacturing.
May 29, 2019 - Timothy W. Simpson
Metal AM
Additive Manufacturing with Wire
This system has the benefits of cheaper cost and easier handling. But there can be some drawbacks as well.
April 26, 2019 - Timothy W. Simpson
Metal AM
Three Cool Uses for Directed Energy Deposition
Most machining professionals don’t like to admit that they ever make mistakes, but every now and then wouldn’t it be nice to have an “eraser” to go back and repair a gouge or fix a nicked edge? Or maybe you took off a bit too much material on that last machining pass and you’d like to add it back? Well, directed energy deposition (DED) enables you to do that and more.
March 28, 2019 - Timothy W. Simpson
Basics
What Is Directed Energy Deposition?
Analyzing directed energy deposition and powder-bed fusion provides a thorough understanding of the extra machining necessary for a “near-net shape” versus a “net shape” manufacturing process.
February 15, 2019 - Timothy W. Simpson
AM Technology
Additive Manufacturing for Large Parts
Powder-bed fusion is driving the hype for additive manufacturing right now, but it may not be the best answer. Directed energy deposition is a strong contender.
January 30, 2019 - Timothy W. Simpson
Basics
Options for Finishing and Postprocessing Metal 3D-Printed Parts
There is a host of technologies available for finishing and postprocessing your AM parts. This column identifies options beyond machining.
December 19, 2018 - Timothy W. Simpson
Metal AM
Can My Machine Tool Access My Support Structures?
Analyzing the machinability of support structures opens a new way of thinking about optimal build orientation.
November 19, 2018 - Timothy W. Simpson
Basics
Understanding Surface Finish of Metal 3D-Printed Parts
Additive manufacturing imposes inherent manufacturing and design challenges that impact the dimensions and tolerances that you can (or cannot) achieve on an “as built” part.
October 24, 2018 - Timothy W. Simpson
Basics
How Machining Support Structures Affects the Cutting Tool
Studies show that thin-walled additively manufactured support structures may be more challenging to machine than they might appear.
September 19, 2018 - Timothy W. Simpson