Further expansion of additive manufacturing (AM) from prototyping to production of final products in small batch quantities is closely correlated to production costs. Application of AM can be competitive to traditional manufacturing methods only if the product is designed for AM already from the beginning. The aim of the new application is to increase design for AM and cost awareness in the conceptual design phase.

The proposed designer support shall be implemented as Web based application. The application will bring the latest information on material and AM technology into conceptual phase of the product development process and enable the product designer to take the right decision.

Requested functions:

• End user support with design for AM principles (links to the catalogue of design rules)
• AM part cost estimation on the base of input data: part volume, material, AM processing
• AM process selection on the base of part technical characteristics: mechanical properties, quality level, temperature resistance, isotropy request
• Web based application; central database for storing and updating AM materials and AM technologies (different AM machines);
• Possibility of adding end-user specific material and AM processing data.  (In the case a company has its own AM machine or local supplier). 

Contact:

Joze Tavcar, joze.tavcar@design.lth.se or Axel Nordin Axel.nordin@design.lth.se