USAGE OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY: A REVIEW
Abstract
Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is an emerging technology with immense potential across various industries, particularly in the automotive sector. It involves the layer-by-layer fabrication of parts by gradually depositing material, distinguishing itself from traditional manufacturing through various ways, including design flexibility, reduced material wastage, shorter lead time, and the absence of tooling requirements. It is still in its nascent phase, and several drawbacks, such as a lack of mechanical strength, limited material availability, and poor surface finish, still hinder its integration into the mainstream production workflow. As a result, further exploration is required to harness its potential along with traditional methods. The automotive sector is long known for its adoption of cutting-edge technologies. Due to the vast potential of AM, the automotive industry is actively trying to incorporate additive manufacturing into mainstream production processes. Consequently, the automotive industry continuously explores ways to enhance this process for seamless integration into product development. However, research elucidating different additive manufacturing processes used within the automotive industry, such as stereolithography (SLA), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and selective laser sintering (SLS), is limited. This paper aims to illuminate various additive manufacturing processes used by automotive companies worldwide. In addition to exploring different processes, the study delves into the advantages and limitations of additive manufacturing, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of its application in the automotive manufacturing landscape.
JEL Classification Codes: Y90.
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