The hype around 3D printing has been increasing exponentially over the past couple of years, many times with little to no backing in the real world of those who use the technology every day. There is no doubt as to the potential of additive manufacturing and recent projections estimate the market to quadruple by 2025. Nevertheless, huge amounts of research, testing and development from end users is required to take additive manufacturing from being a cost effective and flexible prototyping tool into being a profitable and validated production process.

From a technical perspective, additive manufacturing has reached a tipping point where the technology is maturing but big changes to software, applications and scale are expected to happen any moment. As end users are trying to take additive manufacturing one step further and apply it to production, they need to know how to reduce costs while improving quality, both through materials and equipment optimization, as well as to identify the right applications for the technology.

To take additive manufacturing to the next step it is essential to learn about the very latest, and realistic equipment and material cost-benefit analyses taking place in industry. Similarly, it is crucial to access capability reports from the most advanced technologies being applied in the industry, regarding performance, volume and customization. Furthermore, end users are being faced with new design and software rules and limitations, intellectual property issues and the difficulties associated with business case justifications. First movers will reap the benefits of the technology - and these benefits have the potential to be game changing for the businesses they disrupt.

ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT WHAT COULD OR SHOULD HAPPEN - NOW IT'S TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

The Additive Manufacturing Production Application Initiative 2014 (AMPA14) is set to make a difference in the adoption or expansion of additive manufacturing as a cost-effective production process. The industry needs realistic approaches to these issues, as well as opportunities to establish real dialogue across the value chain. Enough has been said about what could or should happen - now it's time to make it happen.

With that purpose, AMPA14 will cover key, progress-critical topics, including:

  • MATERIAL AVAILABILITY AND COST: Assessing the volume availability of key materials to determine the long term sustainability of supply and the scope of additive manufacturing applications
  • MATERIAL SCIENCE AND PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS: Using case studies to determine the performance properties, cost feasibility and standardization capabilities of 3D printing materials
  • MACHINE CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS: Examining the latest technological advances that are helping justify the business case for 3D printing and how capabilities compare to traditional manufacturing methods
  • HOW TO DESIGN FOR 3D PRINTING: Adapting design approaches to a 3D printed world - assessing the game changing design rules, techniques and limitations of additive manufacturing
  • SHOWCASING REAL LIFE INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS: Presenting and analyzing test results to speed up the learning curve and gain perspective on the long-term commercial benefits of additive manufacturing
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