This course aims to introduce the fundamental concept and theoretical knowledge of polymer-based additive manufacturing (AM) processes to address high-mix low-volume production for applications in the Precision Engineering industry, as well as other related industrial sectors.

Participants will acquire knowledge and skills on material and polymer AM selection to fulfill specific functional requirements. New insight, understanding and more in-depth perspectives are gained on various polymer-based AM processes, such as stereolithography, selective laser sintering, fused deposition modelling, polymer jetting and other upcoming polymer AM processes. The course includes industrial case studies and practical lab sessions to substantiate technology adoption of polymer AM processes in high-mix-low-volume production.

This course is targeted at operation managers, manufacturing managers/engineers, production planning engineers, materials engineers, mechanical engineers, production engineers, foremen and skilled operators, quality control managers/engineers, materials purchasing engineers, laboratory managers and engineers, as well as all manufacturing industries with forming processes such as precision engineering, aerospace, biomedical, automotive, and electronics sectors.

Learning Objectives: 

This module is designed to equip participants with industrial knowledge of polymer-based additive manufacturing (AM) processes. 

Contents covered in this module include: 

• Polymer materials used in additive manufacturing 
• Principles of various polymer-based additive manufacturing systems 
• Vat photopolymerisation (stereolithography) 
• Material jetting (3D polymer jetting) 
• Powder-bed fusion polymer additive manufacturing (selective laser sintering) 
• Polymer powder-bed inkjet 3D printing 
• Material extrusion process (fused deposition modelling) 
• Post-processing of polymer additive manufacturing parts 
• Design guidelines and file preparation of specific polymer additive manufacturing systems
• Advantages and challenges in additively manufactured polymer parts 
• Industrial applications and case studies of polymer additive manufactured components 
• Quality assessment of polymer additive manufactured parts and material feedstock
• Project-based case studies on polymer-based additive manufacturing systems