Design methodology for hybrid Additive Manufacturing
Keywords: Metal Additive Manufacturing, Hybrid Additive Manufacturing, Design Methodology
Current research result from the KREATIVE project: Optimization of a robot-guided tool support structure from iwis SE & Co. KG for injection molding production. Conventional (left) vs. lightweight design for hybrid additive manufacturing with 50% less mass (right).
Scope
Additive manufacturing (AM) is widely considered as the Swiss army knife among the existing manufacturing techniques. With AM it is possible to manufacture parts with fairly complex geometries from many different materials. However, the cost of AM are often still too high for series production, thus limiting its use to merely prototyping. To overcome this, AM can sometimes be combined with another manufacturing technique leading to a hybrid additive manufacturing approach. The research project KREATIVE aims at exploring how parts must be designed to properly take advantage of the individual strengths of the different manufacturing techniques while also considering their weaknesses and limitations.
Anticipated Results
A design methodology for hybrid additive manufacturing.
a) Component of a screw driver designed for hybrid additive manufacturing
b) Software prototype for manufacturability assessment
Project Duration
September 2023 until August 2026
Partner
iwis SE & Co. KG, STÖGER AUTOMATION GmbH, Lehrstuhl für Produktentwicklung und Leichtbau (LPL), Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Betriebswissenschaften (iwb).
Funding
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
