How todays 3d printing technology can be adapted to many other industries& scientific research? What alterations of typical 3d printer is required to do so?
Additive Manufacturing currently shows great potential for adoption for varied industrial purposes and is therefore today a large part of research being conducted in the field of production engineering. Broadly, in the future AM should be part of hybrid production chains, working in tandem with conventional manufacturing processes. All our current research efforts are focused on developing the process understanding and qualities required in order to achieve this goal. For our part in our lab, I work on improving the quality of overhanging surface produced by metal AM processes. While a large part of our research is also dedicated on developing functional 3D printing processes where we try to print components with inherent functionalities. This could also make ways for new and innovative products.
I think because of the manifold potentials of additive manufacturing, there is a possible application for almost every industry. In order to make additive manufacturing even more attractive, the processes must be faster, more error-free and the possibilities of the process must also become better known within the companies.