Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, is a new and exciting manufacturing process. It opens a host of new product and prototyping possibilities, but navigating this manufacturing space is often daunting and not always as simple as it looks.
The Product Development Technology Station (PDTS) has actively been involved in the AM environment for more than a decade, assisting clients to produce prototypes or products specifically designed for this manufacturing process. The station’s experience ranges from providing or creating AM prototyping strategies, series production to final products.
The PDTS uses AM design principles such as mass customisation, internal structures, part consolidation, compliant mechanisms and lattice structures to create tailored product solutions. The flexible nature of AM and the ability to create complex structures with minimal manufacturing design restrictions has led to the development of many new products, which previously could not be developed due to conventional methods.