Dec 13, 2016 |
A roadmap for polymer-based additive manufacturing
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(Nanowerk News) Additive manufacturing (AM) is a high-priority technology growth area for U.S. manufacturers. Innovative AM processes that fabricate parts layer-by-layer directly from a 3-D digital model have great potential for producing high-value, complex, individually customized parts.
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Companies are beginning to use AM as a tool for reducing time to market, improving product quality, and reducing the cost to manufacture products.
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Metal-based AM parts are already in use in a number of applications, including automotive engines, aircraft assemblies, power tools, and manufacturing tools.
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IR thermography measurement of materials extrusion additive manufacturing. (Image: Jon Seppala)
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In support of the development of polymer-based additive manufacturing, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the Measurement Science Roadmap for Polymer-Based Additive Manufacturing, a guide that identifies future desired capabilities, challenges, and priority R&D topics in polymer-based AM.
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The report is the result of the “Roadmap Workshop on Measurement Science for Polymer-Based Additive Manufacturing”, held June 9-10, 2016 at the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The workshop brought together nearly 100 AM experts from industry, government, national laboratories, and academia to identify measurement science challenges and associated R&D needs for polymer-based AM systems. The workshop was hosted by NIST, and sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation and NIST’s Material Measurement Laboratory.
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Additive manufacturing is an important research priority for NIST and a key component of MML’s Five-Year Strategic Plan.
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By identifying high priority goals and challenges in polymer-based AM, the report can serve as a roadmap for R&D, standards development, and other future efforts. It includes detailed analyses of the complexities surrounding material characterization, process modeling, in situ measurement, performance, and other cross-cutting challenges for polymer-based AM.
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As such, the report can help guide public and private decision-makers interested in furthering the capabilities of polymer-based AM, and accelerating its more widespread use, and contribute to a robust national research agenda for polymer-based AM.
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