Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)—reinventing how we design everything we make
A Complimentary CIMdata Educational Webinar with James White, Director, Additive Manufacturing Strategy Consulting Practice, CIMdata
September 14, 2017
11:00 EDT | 08:00 PDT | 17:00 CET
Replay Webinar About our Speaker
Do any of the following statements sound a little too familiar?
- Too many parts get scrapped and the cause isn’t clear.
- There is a span of control issue; it is unclear who’s in charge between the CAD engineer and the AM machine operator.
- CAD engineers don’t understand the AM machine.
- CAD engineers don’t know how to light-weight designs using modern tools.
- Changes to part file geometry made after release aren’t recorded back in the design master.
- We think we could make the part better using AM but don’t know where to start.
For millions of years, design has been approached the same way. Additive Manufacturing (AM) gives us new manufacturing freedom we never contemplated, but few companies are considering what that means to design, instead treating AM as a new type of production equipment; an alternate to a molding machine for example, using the same digital design file. The time has come to take advantage of AM by re-inventing our traditional approach to design.
Historically, we have assumed that a product must be broken down into base individual components, which are then assembled according to a predefined process, then then put together, often in an enclosure of some kind, to become a final product. Whether it’s a plane, smart phone, medical device, building, ancient aqueduct, or Egyptian pyramid, we approach design the same way. Modern AM machines can produce end-use quality production parts in materials such as thermoplastics, polyamides, polystyrenes, composites, and metals; even combinations of materials in a single part. Modern software tools such as Generative Design and Topology Optimization help define shapes beyond what a person might envision or create using a CAD system. Despite the availability of machines, materials, and software tools capable of designing radically new AM parts, we still use our pragmatic, ancient “approach” to designing the final product. Now is the time to re-think how we go about designing for AM.
This webinar will show how the implementation of DfAM processes can help evolve a new design/manufacturing strategy rather than merely adopting AM as an alternate production technique.
What will I learn by attending this webinar?
- You will learn how to develop a DfAM Strategy to guide engineers to design for AM
- You will discover AM opportunities for new/existing designs, as well ancillary equipment such as jigs and fixtures
- You will learn more about the roles of engineers, and technologies such as Generative Design and Topology Optimization
- You will find out how to develop an ROI business case for AM in various areas e.g. maintenance, product simplification, material reduction, production, logistics
- You will gain an understanding of AM Lifecycle Management for Design, Simulation, Optimization, Manufacture, and BI reporting
Join us for this webinar if you want to:
- Learn about DfAM principles and methods
- Uncover the hidden opportunities
- See AM examples from other companies and seed ideas for your company
- Learn how to calculate a compelling ROI for AM in your company
- Learn how and when to best use Generative Design and Topology Optimization tools in your design
- Find out how CIMdata can help you embrace DfAM into your design methodologies
Who should attend?
- VP's of engineering
- VP's of strategy
- VP's of manufacturing
- Product planners and managers
- PLM team leaders
- CAD department managers
- Manufacturing engineers
- Field service personnel
- Product managers
- IT leadership, especially supply chain and ERP
- Manufacturing financial analysts
- Manufacturing planners
- Supply chain and procurement professionals
- CAD/PLM senior management
- Solution providers
- Anyone who wants to learn more about implementing Design for Additive Manufacturing processes
During the webinar you’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions about the topics discussed.