Construct3D 2018

Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing has transformed education at all levels of K-12 and higher education and 3D printers are increasingly accessible at any makerspace. While this new manufacturing process has democratized the process of design and innovation, there is tremendous hype surrounding its capabilities to transform an idea into a real product. The end product resulting from a 3D printer depends on several different factors, including the type of printer, materials and numerous process parameters. Designers and educators could benefit from accurate yet straightforward guidelines necessary to ensure that the part design is compatible with the intended additive manufacturing technique. The purpose of this paper is present relevant reported work towards the creation of design rules and guidelines for AM. These guidelines could be utilized by educators and practitioners of AM to gauge the suitability of their design for the specific AM process that would be accessible to them. Moreover, these guidelines could also assist the learner to modify their design to meet the functional requirements while also making it compatible with the AM process.