As additive manufacturing becomes a mainstream fabrication method, significant manufacturability improvement and cost reduction can be achieved by approaching design as an integrated mechanical system. Optimizing additive components will not be possible without integrated model based engineering and design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) processes. Value in the form of cost savings, time savings, design capabilities, quality and sustainability is enabling the transformation of production systems and changing the way we design and manufacture parts and tools.
Additive manufacturing, like all technologies, is ultimately about value creation: understanding when to use AM to help produce designs that can be produced more efficiently than by conventional methods, shorten delivery times, reduce weight and assembly, and increase quality and part durability. We will discuss a proof of concept model of integrated thermal devices that are creating new needs and production requirements. The applications are for high performance heat exchanger designs such as environmental control, engine bleed system, and avionics cooling systems. Rapidly accelerating global growth makes it more important to use a model based approach to achieving closed loop feedback over the lifecycle of AM component value.
