The aerospace and automotive industries have been using 3D printing technology for years to create custom parts quickly, efficiently and at a lower cost. This SlideShare will teach you about additive manufacturing, and how this growing field can help enhance your production processes and complement traditional manufacturing practices.

1. THE COST OF MANUFACTURING
With Lasers vs. Without Them

2. INTRODUCTION
The aerospace and automotive industries have been using 3D printing technology for
years to create custom parts quickly, efficiently and at a lower cost.
Learn more about additive manufacturing, and how this growing field can help enhance
your production processes and complement traditional manufacturing practices.

3. Traditional manufacturing processes begin with a solid mold and remove
material to create an object. This results in:
• High Manufacturing Costs
• Design Limitations Due to Costs
• Longer Production Time
• More Waste and Less Precision
Additive manufacturing (or 3D printing) continuously adds layers of the
material to existing layers to create a desired shape, resulting in:
• Lower Manufacturing Costs
• Cost-Effective Design Innovations
• Compressed Design and Production Cycles
• Less Waste and More Precision
TRADITIONAL MANUFACTURING vs. ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

4. There are six different additive manufacturing technologies currently used within
the industry:
Selective Laser Melting (SLM): Similar to EBM, high-powered laser beams completely
melt powdered metal to create complex objects.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS): Small, powdered particles are heated and fused together
using a carbon dioxide laser to form the material into a three-dimensional design.
Stereolithography (SLA): Starting from the bottom, an object is built layer by layer in a
container of liquid plastic. A UV laser hardens the object.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): Semi-liquified plastic is applied layer by layer to
create an object.
Electron Beam Melting (EBM): Using a high-powered electron beam, powdered metal
is melted down layer by layer within a vacuum to create the object.
Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM): Layers of paper or plastic are fused together
and a computer-controlled laser or blade cuts out the desired shape.
3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY

5. In-House 3D Printing:
A company has in-house capabilities to use 3D-printing technology.
Contract Manufacturing:
A manufacturer works with a additive manufacturing company to create
3D-printed components.
3D Printing as a Service:
When orders are received, the object is made to order using a 3D printer.
Retail 3D Printing:
Consumer-friendly 3D printers that are designed for in-home use.
3D-PRINTING BUSINESS MODELS

6. Small-Batch Manufacturing:
Instead of manufacturing in mass quantities, additive manufacturing allows you
to produce small batches of needed items at a lower cost.
Mass Customization:
Smaller batches of product and lower throughput allow for high levels of
customization and a faster time to market.
Real-Time Demand:
With additive manufacturing, demand often supersedes production, eliminating
the need to keep finished items in stock.
Crowdsourcing:
3D printing allows the consumer to become a part of the design and redesign
process, as design ideas can be produced and tested in single units.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF 3D PRINTING

7. 3D printing as a service will become more popular as consumers needs for
customized products increases.
The military and defense sector is seeing more and more applications of 3D
printing available.
Asian markets will be the fastest-emerging 3D-printing market in the years
to come.
Sources:
NIST
Xometry
Allied Market Research
Frost and Sullivan
Sculpteo
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

8. About LIA
For more information about the Laser Institute of America,
contact us online or call 1-800-345-2737.