Search
Menu
Member Exclusive

Lasers and LEDs Layer on New Capabilities for Additive Manufacturing

Facebook X LinkedIn Email
Long used to cut, modify, or weld parts, photons are increasingly helping to fabricate them whole from raw materials.

HANK HOGAN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Additive manufacturing, aka 3D printing, offers an alternative to conventional manufacturing and assembly methods by building products layer by layer. In addition to enabling heretofore impossible part geometries, the technology also hints at a future in which items could be fabricated anywhere, as needed, from a digital blueprint. When applied to polymer materials, the technology is finding application in products ranging from footwear to automobile components. When applied to ceramics, it’s shaping custom dental products. Additive manufacturing is even extending to the fabrication of metal parts designed for medical instruments, cars, and aircraft. Today, most 3D-printing applications target rapid prototyping because the technology can produce sample parts quickly from computer models that can easily be customized and shared. Though less common, the manufacturing technique is increasingly being used to produce finished products, allowing for greater customization, reduced assembly costs, streamlined supply chains, and easier inventory management.

Member Exclusive: To read the complete article, please Login or Register

Published: December 2020
Glossary
additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer. This is in contrast to traditional manufacturing methods, which often involve subtracting or forming materials to achieve the desired shape. In additive manufacturing, a digital model of the object is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software, and this digital model is then sliced into thin cross-sectional layers. The...
3d printing
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects layer by layer from a digital model. This technology allows the creation of complex and customized structures that would be challenging or impossible with traditional manufacturing methods. The process typically involves the following key steps: Digital design: A three-dimensional digital model of the object is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software. This...
FeaturesLasersdiode lasersfiber lasersLEDsmaterials processingadditive manufacturing3d printingcamerasinfrared camerasindustrial

We use cookies to improve user experience and analyze our website traffic as stated in our Privacy Policy. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.