The Environmental Impacts of Metal Powder Bed Additive Manufacturing

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiankan Liao ◽  
Daniel R. Cooper

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) is widely recognized as a critical pillar of advanced manufacturing and is moving from the design shop to the factory floor. As AM processes become more popular, it is paramount that engineers and policymakers understand and then reduce their environmental impacts. This article structures the current work on the environmental impacts of metal powder bed processes: selective laser melting (SLM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), electron beam melting (EBM), and binder jetting (BJ). We review the potential benefits and pitfalls of AM in each phase of a part's lifecycle and in different application domains (e.g., remanufacturing and hybrid manufacturing). We highlight critical uncertainties and future research directions throughout. The environmental impacts of AM are sensitive to the specific production and use-phase context; however, several broad lessons can be extracted from the literature. Unlike in conventional manufacturing, powder bed production impacts are dominated by the generation of the direct energy (electricity) required to operate the AM machines. Combined with a more energy-intensive feedstock (metal powder), this means that powder bed production impacts are higher than in conventional manufacturing unless production volumes are very small (saving tool production impacts), and/or there are significant material savings through part light weighting or improved buy-to-fly ratios.

Author(s):  
Jiankan Liao ◽  
Daniel R. Cooper

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) is widely recognized as a critical pillar of advanced manufacturing and is moving from the design shop to the factory floor. As AM processes become more popular, it is paramount that engineers and policymakers understand and then reduce their environmental impacts. This article structures the current work on the environmental impacts of metal powder bed processes: selective laser melting (SLM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), electron beam melting (EBM), and binder jetting (BJ). We review the potential benefits and pitfalls of AM in each phase of a part’s lifecycle and in different application domains (e.g., remanufacturing, hybrid manufacturing etc.). We highlight critical uncertainties and future research directions throughout. The environmental impacts of AM are sensitive to the specific production and use-phase context; however, several broad lessons can be extracted from the literature. Unlike in conventional manufacturing, powder bed production impacts are dominated by the generation of the direct energy (electricity) required to operate the AM machines. Combined with a more energy-intensive feedstock (metal powder) this means that powder bed production impacts are higher than in conventional manufacturing unless production volumes are very small (saving tool production impacts) and/or there are significant material savings through part light weighting or improved buy-to-fly ratios.


Author(s):  
Paul Witherell ◽  
Shaw Feng ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson ◽  
David B. Saint John ◽  
Pan Michaleris ◽  
...  

In this paper, we advocate for a more harmonized approach to model development for additive manufacturing (AM) processes, through classification and metamodeling that will support AM process model composability, reusability, and integration. We review several types of AM process models and use the direct metal powder bed fusion AM process to provide illustrative examples of the proposed classification and metamodel approach. We describe how a coordinated approach can be used to extend modeling capabilities by promoting model composability. As part of future work, a framework is envisioned to realize a more coherent strategy for model development and deployment.


Author(s):  
Rothanak Chan ◽  
Sriram Manoharan ◽  
Karl R. Haapala

While there have been many advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) technologies for metal products, there has not been a great deal of attention paid toward developing an understanding of the relative sustainability performance of various AM processes for production of aerospace components, such as wire feed and powder bed fusion processes. This research presents a method to calculate and compare quantitative metrics for evaluating metal AM process on a basis of sustainability performance. The process-level evaluation method encompasses a triple bottom line analysis for low volume part production. A representative aerospace titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) component is considered for the study and the production of the part is modeled using direct energy deposition (DED) as the representative wire feed AM process and selective laser melting (SLM) as the representative powder bed AM process. The results indicate that DED has a superior sustainability performance to SLM, mainly due to the relatively slower deposition rate and higher cost of material for SLM than DED. This research provides decision makers an approach method and a demonstrated case study in comparing DED and SLM AM processes. This understanding reveals advantages between the two options and offers avenues of future investigation for these technologies for further development and larger scale use.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salehudin ◽  
Aryana Satrya

Purpose:This paper explores how organisations can cope with high employee turnover. This paper aims to highlight potential benefits of maintaining a network of employee alumni and rehiring former employees. Finally, this paper also introduces the concept of recoverability to define the potential of employee alumni to be rehired.Approach:This paper reviewed the latest literature on employee alumni and rehiring. This paper does not discuss the potential antecedents of employee turnover, instead focuses on a coping mechanism for the consequence. Findings:This paper challenges the assumption that former employees can no longer contribute to the organisation after their resignation. Additionally, this paper disputes the premise of employee turnover finality by exploring employee rehiring as a potential solution to recoup lost human capital. Finally, this paper identifies an apparent lack of human resources management literature on employee rehiring. Research Implication:This paper discusses scientific and practical implications and future research directions on employee alumni and rehiring. Originality:This paper highlights how organisations can cope with the high rate of employee turnover, instead of attempting to minimise it. This paper also extends the definition of functional turnover by introducing the potential of employee rehiring and recoverability of lost human capital.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-516
Author(s):  
Emel Taban ◽  
Olatunji Oladimeji Ojo

Abstract Flexible and digital manufacturing technologies like additive manufacturing (AM) have evolved as the future of modern manufacturing with the capability of obtaining multi-dimensional components and material functionality improvement. In the past decade, the additive manufacturing of steel has advanced into an effective approach for controlling local microstructure and fabricating hybrid build with tailored performance. As an emerging technology, there are still some challenges in the additive manufacturing of steel that need to be circumvented in order to attain the full potentials of this novel technology. This review paper examines the current state of additively manufactured steel as well as the associated microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion of as-built steel. An insight into further and future research directions is provided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pervez Akhtar ◽  
Nora Azima ◽  
Abdul Ghafar ◽  
Shahab Ud Din

Blockchain technology, as a distributed digital ledger technology that ensures traceability, security, and transparency is displaying potential for easing some comprehensive supply chain problems. Scholars have started analyzing systematically the potential benefits and effects of block-chain on numerous activities of an organization. This paper presents the barricades in the adoption of blockchain technology in supply chain management. The potential benefits of blockchain adoption such as quality, cost, speed, transparency, durability, and immutability are also discussed in this paper. We present the early literature discussing the use of blockchain in the field of the supply chain to enhance accountability and transparency. This study explains the several mechanisms by which supply chain managers can prepare their organizational structure to adopt the latest technology. It further highlights the mechanisms to achieve supply chain objectives. Part of this paper also discusses how blockchains, a potentially disruptive solution that is on its early evolution, can overcome several potential barricades. Future research directions are proposed which can further provide insights into overcoming barriers and adoption of blockchain technology in the field of supply chain management.


Author(s):  
Yuchu Qin ◽  
Qunfen Qi ◽  
Peizhi Shi ◽  
Paul J. Scott ◽  
Xiangqian Jiang

AbstractPart orientation is a critical task in the process of additive manufacturing product realisation. Recently, various computer-aided methods for this task have been presented in the literature. The coexistence of different methods generates a series of questions: What are the common characteristics of these methods? What are the specific characteristics of each method? What are the main issues in computer-aided part orientation for additive manufacturing currently? What are the potential research directions in this field in the future? To approach these questions, a review of the existing computer-aided part orientation methods for additive manufacturing is presented in this paper. This review starts with a clarification of a part orientation problem and a classification of the existing methods into two categories according to their process of solving the problem. An overview of the representative methods in each category is then carried out from the aspects of approaches for orientation search, generation, or selection, estimation of build orientation factors, determination of weights of factors, establishment of overall objective function, and demonstration of effectiveness. After that, a discussion about the main issues in computer-aided part orientation for additive manufacturing is documented based on the overview. Finally, a suggestion of some future research directions in this field is reported.


Author(s):  
Clementina Bruno

This chapter, after defining Demand Response (DR) and its potential benefits, illustrates a set of challenges to DR development. A brief review of recent contributions on DR is provided, illustrating that such challenges can come from different sources. Regulatory, technical or socio-economic challenges are considered and discussed. Finally, inter-disciplinary research is suggested as solution to overcome challenges, and some examples of future research directions with respect to economics and social science are provided.


Author(s):  
Paul Witherell ◽  
Shaw C. Feng ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson ◽  
David B. Saint John ◽  
Pan Michaleris ◽  
...  

Though the advanced manufacturing capabilities offered by additive manufacturing (AM) have been known for several decades, industry adoption of AM technologies has been relatively slow. Recent advances in modeling and simulation of AM processes and materials are providing new insights to help overcome some of the barriers that have hindered adoption. However, these models and simulations are often application specific, and few are developed in an easily reusable manner. Variations are compounded because many models are developed as independent or proprietary efforts, and input and output definitions have not been standardized. To further realize the potential benefits of modeling and simulation advancements, including predictive modeling and closed-loop control, more coordinated efforts must be undertaken. In this paper, we advocate a more harmonized approach to model development, through classification and metamodeling that will support model composability, reusability, and integration. We review several types of AM models and use direct metal powder bed fusion characteristics to provide illustrative examples of the proposed classification and metamodel approach. We describe how a coordinated approach can be used to extend modeling capabilities by promoting model composability. As part of future work, a framework is envisioned to realize a more coherent strategy for model development and deployment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. 1740004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Wang ◽  
Fuke Wang

In this review, additive manufacturing technologies using liquid resins as materials are reviewed from the perspective of printing technologies and materials. Most importantly, recent progress of new printing technologies and printers as well as novel printing materials and their applications are summarized, based on which potential future research directions are discussed at the end of this review.


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