From my point of view, this manufacturing method give yet parts with low mechanical properties in relation with conventional process. However today there are many parts, for example in machines that work manufacturing pieces layer by layer, because in this type of process, there is not forces applied over the machine structure.

I think wil be necessary more time yet, for that many parts made layer by layer can sustitute conventional parts. But this path, is an inexorable path!!!

Thank you Dear Daniel M K,

As per Prof. Ian Gibson speech on Additive Manufacturing Annual Summit in Bangalore(India), He also mentioned that we have to work with various materials as to explore technique.

Some other person also mentioned a question that

After some 5-10 years or may be later, People will come and question where can I print my car or where can I print my helicopter wing ..etc.

I could be happy to hear your comments on that statement?

Thankyou

Ian Gibson is a Guru in this technologies. If Gibson say that, possibily he had reason, but for me some comments appear as "science fiction" yet.

May be this paper:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282546806_Additive_manufacturing_methods_and_modeling_approaches_A_critical_review

can help you.

Article Additive manufacturing methods and modeling approaches: A cr...

Yes Dear Daniel M.K

He is Guru ..he contributed plenty of things.

I have read that paper, recently.

I am thinking why the people came up with plastics and polymers for wide range. Why the same thing was not there with metals?..

What actually stopping?

common reasons could be handling and cost but

what other major factors which are affecting this?

Thanks and regards

Additive manufacturing (AM) has significant advantages over conventional manufacturing techniques, such as turning, milling and grinding in the RIGHT applications. Foremost are applications with complex geometries, internal features and surfaces that cannot, physically, be manufactured using conventional techniques. Incidentally, these advantages of the process present significant challenges for measurement and characterization of dimensions and surfaces and significant work needs to be performed to generate techniques, standards and specifications that will permit the pass/fail dimensional and surface analysis required for industry.  

@Andrew Townsend

Thank you for the information.

You meant to say we need to have  On Machine Measurement for 3D Printed/Additive Manufactured components ??

Like the literature suggests On Machine Measurements in fabrication of optomechanics, ashperic lens..

It may be possible to convert /upgrade those systems to be used here too... but the fact initial cost / expense will be high.

Thankyou

Not necessarily on-machine or in-process (difficult), but measurement techniques such as x-ray computed tomography of completed parts.

Conference Paper Investigating the capability of microfocus x-ray computed to...

3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing technology is a family of technologies. For example, there is Fused Deposition Modeling and Stereo Lithography for polymers and there is Selective Laser Sintering and Direct Metal Deposition for metals.  Parts made from polymers such as ABS are suitable for modeling and non-load bearing uses while polymers such as nylon and Ultem are suitable for end-use, load-bearing applications. Metallic parts made with laser sintering have similar strength to traditional castings and are also suitable for end-use parts.  Direct metal parts are stronger than laser sintered parts.

However,a major challenge in printing full-strength products with additive manufacturing is the anisotropic nature of the result.  That is, the material strength is not equal in all 3 coordinate directions.  Material is built up in layers and the strength between the layers is noticeably weaker than the strength in the other directions.  The adhesion between the layers of material is weaker than the strength within each layer.   There are ways to work around this by tweaking the many build parameters of the machine, but currently it is not automatic, requiring manual trial and error.  As new technologies and new materials are introduced, the anisotropic effect is expected to dwindle.

Additive technologies, in general, are still in their infancy.  It is analogous to the late 70's when the first Apple personal computers came on the scene.  At that time, the computers were slow and clunky with monochrome, low-resolution, green and black displays.  These machines cost a few thousand dollars at the time and to get the most out of one it was helpful to know some programming. Today the popular MakerBot is a few thousand dollars and it prints in ABS with relatively low resolution at a slow speed.  The process is clunky and requires a great deal of manual input.  The good news is that the best is yet to come.  As the technologies evolve, more applications will be found and as-yet unknown technologies will spin off.  In contrast to personal computers, 3D printing technology is accelerated by today's internet, which did not exist in the same form in the 70's.  At that time, who among us could have envisioned technologies such as Amazon, Snapchat, Pandora or Facebook, to name a few?  

The benefits of producing parts with additive manufacturing are intriguing.  It enables us to produce part geometries that can not be built any other way, by any other methods, with less waste and less tooling costs.  In this design space, complexity is free.  Variation is free.  The price per piece is the same as the price for 1000 pieces.  We are at the beginning of a disruptive, transformational technology.  It will be fascinating to see how it plays out.

@Andrew T

Thats good information Thank you.

Dear Chip H

Thank you for your valuable time that you have mentioned good points.

Thank you