Feature

The future of AM is hybrid

According to a UK Parliamentary report, the manufacturing sector accounted for 9.8 percent of the UK’s total economic output and 8.1 percent of jobs between July and September 2022. Following Brexit and a global pandemic, more manufacturers are onshoring to reduce reliance on imports, while reevaluating production processes. Here, Joe Godfrey, 3D Print Specialist at Tri-Tech 3D, explores how balancing in-house and outsourced additive manufacturing (AM) can enhance onshoring efforts.

02/08/2023 11:03:19

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Today, over 50 percent of engineers use 3D printing to produce end-use functional parts. This interest in AM has been sparked not least by the rising cost of traditional manufacturing processes. The costs
of raw materials are continuing to rise – for example, British Steel began 2023 with a £75 per tonne price hike. The cost of energy is on the up, making it more expensive
to power CNC machines and other equipment, while labour shortages remain an issue.

The growing availability of sophisticated AM systems, combined with the lack of waste they produce and the improved part reliability they
provide, has improved the ROI of AM. Meanwhile, the 3D printing capabilities that manufacturers can bring in-house continue to grow. For example, stereolithography (SLA) AM systems create parts layer by layer using a
UV laser and a vat of liquid UV-curable photopolymer resin. This enables users to expand their design capabilities and improve the part finish and quality in shorter build times.

Read the full article in DPA's August issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.