3-D printing (additive manufacturing) of one metal material on another dissimilar base material

• Main Author: Zhang, Qian
• Other Authors: Xiao Zhongmin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/172826
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

With technological advancements, there have been notable improvements in additive manufacturing in recent years. With many techniques to work on, coupled with the countless number of materials that can possibly be experimented on, it has led to unprecedented growth and advancement in AM technology. The uniqueness of AM is defined by its characteristic of having the mass of the manufactured part increase during the manufacturing process, which is vastly different from conventional manufacturing methods such as subtractive manufacturing. The ability to produce parts that are complex, intricate and of high quality, at high speeds and accuracy, makes AM the preferred manufacturing method for a myriad of components. There is also a broad spectrum of real-world use cases. For instance, in the aerospace industry, notable companies such as Boeing have harnessed AM to fabricate intricate, lightweight components, thus reducing fuel consumption and enhancing the overall performance of aircraft. In healthcare, AM has revolutionized the production of custom medical implants and prosthetics, enabling the creation of personalized orthopaedic implants tailored to individual patients' needs. Another significant area of advancement lies in the area of materials. Initially, AM primarily used plastics, but it has since expanded its material pool to encompass metals, ceramics, and even biocompatible materials, unlocking new possibilities for applications in various industries. With these materials, AM has become more versatile and capable of producing parts with diverse properties.