Design for Additive Manufacturing

Overview

Class Central Tips

Should a part be made with additive manufacturing? If so, what process should one select, and what design choices should one make? This course seeks to answer these questions by providing a framework called the DFAM staircase, and by providing a scorecard for assessing appropriateness for additive manufacturing. The necessary elements for each course are lecture videos, knowledge checks, and project completion. For additional information on certain topics, I've included supplemental readings and videos throughout various lessons that might enhance your knowledge. Because all resources are not available to all students, these materials are optional. In addition, you will note that some of the lectures feature our department’s graduate students. These excellent students are sometimes closer to the material, having learned it recently, so we greatly appreciate their participation in the instructional process.

Syllabus

Course Introduction

Should a part be made with additive manufacturing? If so, what process should one select, and what design choices should one make? This course seeks to answer these questions by providing a framework called the DFAM staircase, and by providing a scorecard for assessing appropriateness for additive manufacturing. The necessary elements for each course are lecture videos, knowledge checks, and project completion. For additional information on certain topics, I've included supplemental readings and videos throughout various lessons that might enhance your knowledge. Because all resources are not available to all students, these materials are optional. In addition, you will note that some of the lectures feature our department’s graduate students. These excellent students are sometimes closer to the material, having learned it recently, so we greatly appreciate their participation in the instructional process.

Module 5.1: Design Constraints in Additive Manufacturing

This module introduces you to process constraints and machining considerations and how they influence design for additive manufacturing.

Module 5.2: Design Considerations for Additive Manufacturing

This module discusses factors to keep in mind when designing projects for additive manufacturing.

Module 5.3: Course Project and Wrap-Up

This module summarizes how to assess whether a part is a good candidate for additive manufacturing; how to decide on the optimal additive manufacturing process; and how to make design changes to best fit the process.