Additive Manufacturing

FEB 2014

Modern Machine Shop and MoldMaking Technology present ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, a quarterly supplement reporting on the use of additive processes to manufacture functional parts. More at additivemanufacturinginsight.com.

Issue link: https://am.epubxp.com/i/246541

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 17 of 19

Article continued from page 15. Tere are frms that continue to increase brick-andmortar resources, technical capability and know-how in order to better meet dynamic customer requirements. It will be interesting to see how the startups in this industry defne their diferentiation. An area of increasing interest seems to be in catering to localities and afnity groups—exploiting the low-volume, customization enablers of additive manufacturing. Ideaspace. Common attributes for success include agility and latitude in creativity, and, quite frankly, those who realize ideas seem more adept than most. To that end, the maker movement is a compliment, if not a necessary element, in advancing the state of additive manufacturing, not only in the United States but in the global market as well. When this is coupled with mentorship resources found in competitive programs like the FIRST Robotics Competition, a new innovation landscape begins to emerge. Te additive manufacturing perspective looks continuously challenging and promising for 2014, where the world may be literally what you make of it! ResouRces: While many government programs, and the private sector for that matter, have historically performed in silos, there seems to be an interesting phenomenon lately to share data publically. Whether it is a private-public partnership, such as America Makes, or an efort funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), like the Open Manufacturing program, there are more public forums to present and share outcomes than ever before. Tis better enables the diligent to connect strategic dots, create value to advance the state of the art and not reinvent the wheel, as well as brings more diversifed backgrounds to the productivity table. Advancements will continue in additive manufacturing in the arena of optimization for material selection for product requirements, process parameter mapping to as-designed properties, and improved equipment calibration and reliability. Should the "maker" community—Maker Faire, DIY and educational outlets—continue their entrepreneurial march forward, look to fnd more local manufacturing and creativity incubators manifesting organically, as they have at MIT's Fab Lab network and 16 — AM Supplement America Makes, americamakes.us General Electric, ge.com/stories/ additive-manufacturing DARPA, darpa.mil Maker Faire, makerfaire.com MIT Fab Lab, fab.cba.mit.edu Ideaspace, ideaspacedc.com FIRST Robotics Competition, usfrst.org/ roboticsprograms/frc

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Additive Manufacturing - FEB 2014