MAY 2016 Additive Manufacturing
FEATURE
/
Deployment Strategy
26
By Peter Zelinski
The day will come when Caterpillar achieves more efcient part
designs thanks to additive manufacturing. That is what this heavy
equipment maker's team members associated with AM see as the
greatest long-term promise of the capability. Subassemblies can
be consolidated into single pieces and component forms can be
intricately tailored to achieve each part's optimal combination of
functionality, mass and cost.
However, the technology is not there yet. A lot needs to hap-
pen between now and then.
For Caterpillar even more than for other manufacturers,
additive manufacturing will need to advance well beyond where
it is today in order to deliver its full promise. For now, therefore,
A new Additive
Manufacturing
Factory focuses on
aftermarket parts
today in preparation
for production parts
in the future.
CATERPILLAR
Lays the Groundwork