Promoted content: Bringing AM into the mainstream

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has rapidly expanded into nearly all industries with projections of growth continuing in the double digits for the next decade.  AM carries with it the ability to expand product performance, reduce design to product cycle times, and drive down total product cost.  AM methods and technology continue to advance in both capabilities and quality while providing more material options in metals and polymers as well as many hybrid materials.  With AM, Yesterday’s Impossible is truly Today’s Opportunity.

One common denominator across all areas of AM is the need for qualification of the AM process and product.  The performance of some AM products can be critical in sustaining human life as well as assuring the function and protection of equipment valued at millions of dollars.  Flight Critical metal AM products are rapidly replacing products manufactured with conventional manufacturing processes such as castings, forgings and weldments.  Cast medical implants are being replaced with metal and polymer-based AM products with characteristics that make them superior in their biological attachment within the body while employing materials optimal for biocompatibility.  Numerous other industries have successfully begun to employ the use of AM in their manufacturing of performance critical products.