IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2015 - 82

Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing, colloquially referred to as
3D printing is, according to Wohlers Associates, the
"process of joining materials to make objects from 3D
model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to
subtractive manufacturing methodologies; synonyms
include additive fabrication, additive processes, additive techniques, additive layer manufacturing, layer
manufacturing, and freeform fabrication" [2]. This
innovation, and the speculated possibilities it offers,
are what stimulates businesses to consider adopting
the technology.
This article provides a means, and first step, for
evaluating AM on the merits of its relevant technological
opportunities, allowing for selectivity up to application
level. The most recent opportunities for AM were investigated through a literature research, resulting in the discovery and identification of eleven applications areas.
The results are consolidated into a holistic application
overview.

Additive manufacturing dates back to the mid-1980s
when it was directly linked to the idea of "rapid prototyping." As the term already hints, its predominant
application was the creation of prototypes in an automated and timely fashion. Increasing interest from
industry in its potential stimulated the reduction
of operational costs as well as machine costs, and
increased the number of application areas [9].

Finished Products
Prototypes
Prototypes form a critical part in product development
as well as in the manufacturing cycle of a product by
enabling assessment of the form, fit, and functionality
of a prototype before there is financial commitment to a
concept [10]. Moreover, prototypes help to evaluate and
verify the design, determine its manufacturability, and
evaluate it in terms of marketing [11]. Prototyping used
to require craftsmanship and a rather long development
time, constraining design iterations and therefore resulting in less than optimized products [10]. With additive
manufacturing technology, prototypes can be produced
in a fraction of the time.

Research Significance and Method
The increasing pace of technological advances and the
management of complexity is becoming more and more
difficult given the need for clarification of the direction
of technological developments [3]. Current literature on
AM application is highly varied, spanning from chemistry to mechanical engineering to specific business
applications. Currently knowledge is lacking on capabilities and limitations. These are reported to be widely
unknown in companies [4], and there are also very few
articles addressing sociotechnical issues in this area,
such as [5]-[7].
AM technology is often referred to as disruptive. However, we will not specifically discuss application areas
that are most likely disruptive by nature, rather we will
present overall application areas for the technology.
The literature research presented here encompassed
102 peer-reviewed journal articles and 21 magazine articles that were discovered using locate leading articles,
backward cycle and forward cycle [8]. This resulted in the
categorization as presented in Figure 1, which was used
for the overall organization and structure of this article.

Consumer Goods
The use of AM in finished products is already visible on
the World Wide Web and in our day-to-day lives. Web
shops offer a wide range of products [12]. AM is even
utilized for creating replicas of small gaming characters
[13]. Desktop fabricator kits have also been introduced
making the technology more available to consumers,
thereby empowering them to make such products themselves [14]. Open source environments are also stimulating this movement now that AM-related patents have
started expiring [15].
The use of AM technology to produce custom fit
safety equipment such as helmets and other protective
garments used by professionals has been suggested
[13]. Benefits can include improved fit and reducing
traumatic brain injury risks [16]. Further customization

Additive Manufacturing
Finished Products

Models Prototypes

Parts

Consumer Biomedical
Goods
Products

Spare
Parts

Singular
Parts

Tools

Bio
µ
Electronics
Constructs Structures

Figure 1. Categorization of additive manufacturing applications.

IEEE TEchnology and SocIETy MagazInE

∕

september 2015

Molds Dies

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2015