As engineers assess how additive manufacturing (AM) can replace or complement traditional manufacturing processes, there will need to be a quantum shift in how to approach the entire design-to-manufacturing process.
Necessarily, this begins with re-evaluating product design. Developments in design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) will drive the uptake of AM as a production technology. This is because DFAM requires a different approach than traditional design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA). The latter focuses on designing products to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs, while DFAM aims to capitalize on the unique capabilities of AM to optimize a product or component. By applying DFAM, engineers can take advantage of the ability of AM to create complex geometries and reduce part weight.