Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is providing game-changing capabilities for rapidly producing unique prototypes and fully functional parts including those that might otherwise be impossible. This video provides an overview of the AM capabilities APL provides that are capable of producing parts in a wide range of materials, sizes and complexities.
Everywhere you look, there’s a new innovation made possible by the wonders of 3D printing. Here at APL, we’ve made some amazing things. But it’s not just pushing a button – it’s a process.
It’s called additive manufacturing and it’s changed the way we design, and produce, high-value parts for a variety of projects.
Unlike traditional subtractive methods, which remove unwanted material, additive manufacturing creates objects from 3D model data, joining materials together layer by layer.
We start with your design and the materials you need, and build it up, a little bit at a time, until we get your finished piece. But making the really complex parts that we do, takes more than just the plans and turning on a machine.
When you hear “3D Printing”, it’s usually low end, and low capability. Additive manufacturing is about thinking big - our high-end tools and techniques allow us to go from design to part, more quickly and efficiently than ever before. We utilize multiple processes – tailored to best suit each project.
It means we can create complex geometries, or internal features, that would be nearly impossible with other methods. Parts can be engineered with lattice structures, or gradient materials. Our current work is primarily with polymers, but our capabilities using metal will be expanding.
Design changes are both simple and inexpensive.
And we ensure the properties are consistent from build-to-build, project-to-project. Through these processes we’ve been able to create some remarkable, highly customized, durable and complex parts — fast.
Additive manufacturing gives us flexibility to modify designs to your specifications, easily. And by producing multiple parts at once, or all-in-one assemblies, we really cut down on production time.
It’s the perfect solution for prototyping or trying multiple designs, as well as for hard-to-machine materials, or engineering lightweight structures, that are strong.