Where Additive Manufacturing Fits

 

Interest in additive manufacturing is slowly but steadily gaining traction in traditional machine shops. While the number of active users of the technology is still relatively low, and the majority of those who have already implemented the technology are in the early stages of finding the most effective application for it, a growing fascination for its potential is spreading throughout the manufacturing community.

This increased attention and the potential impact of the technology is why Gardner Business Media began publishing its Additive Manufacturing magazine a few years back. While that brand addresses the technology across the wide spectrum of manufacturing, Production Machining has recently begun to look at its presence more specifically in the precision turned parts market.

This past December, I visited a shop that has built its foundation on its additive manufacturing capabilities, but still makes extensive use of its lineup of turning centers and multitasking machines in the production of medical components such as hip and knee replacement parts. Read “First-Class Manufacturing with Additive” to learn how this shop is effectively combining additive with traditional subtractive manufacturing processes.

If you really want to dive more deeply into the technology, Additive Manufacturing magazine has all the information you need. This short video provides a great overview of where additive makes the most sense and may help you determine if it’s a good fit for your shop.