Conclusion

This free course, Additive manufacturing, has shown how AM is as much an interesting way of thinking about manufacturing as it is a new way of constructing components. As computing systems have become more powerful, the availability of software to ‘slice’ CAD models for layer-by-layer construction has paved the way for AM to thrive.

A material processed by AM will often have very different properties compared with the same material processed using a traditional method. Furthermore, residual stress is an issue for all processes that experience large variations in temperature; additively manufactured components are no exception.

This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course T805 Manufacture materials design [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .