Understanding Additive Manufacturing: The Benefits and Limitations
Most additive manufacturing (AM) methods are well-established, as are the technology’s benefits. Using AM, organizations can fabricate complex parts more efficiently, tailor products to the end user, print replacement parts within hours, and speed up product development with quick prototypes and custom tooling. Despite those benefits, AM is unlikely to replace traditional manufacturing in most cases. It’s generally more expensive per unit than traditional manufacturing, and the number of raw materials it can use is limited. There’s also a shortage of AM talent, and it can be difficult to incorporate AM into an existing business.
MIT Horizon writers Abby Smith and Ben Tolkin will join us to explain AM’s benefits and limitations, sharing examples of where additive methods work well and where they don’t.