Arcam AB fka AMAVF

[charlie T colton]

Breaking additive manufacturing into the mainstream

At themanufacturer.com - Breaking additive manufacturing into the mainstream - 26 Jun 2017

Why is additive most prevalent in automotive, aerospace, healthcare and energy (core verticals of GE incidentally); why not food & bev or pharmaceutical, for example?

Eventually it will. Additive is about value creation. When you buy a 5,000lb aircraft engine, you pay several million pounds for it. When you a 5,000lb automobile, you pay tens of thousands for it. When you buy a 5,000lb tool, you pay a couple of thousand for it. It’s a different value creation, and that’s why additive started in those high value sectors.

If you look at medical implants, for example, additive is growing substantially. One of the reasons why is that the rough surface is seen as advantageous – it helps promote cell and tissue growth, and ultimately a better result for the patient.

However, for our nozzle tips, for example, I need a perfect surface finish inside, which necessitates significantly more time to machine and achieve. However, the final value of that part is far higher than that of a hip replacement, for example. For automotive, aerospace and other verticals, we just need to further increase the speed, lower the cost and refine the process.

What advice would you give to a company looking to take their first step towards additive?

Jump in. Understand it, play with it, get familiar with it and feel comfortable with it now because this is going to be a game-changer sooner than most people think.

As a more than 30-year industry veteran, as a frustrated engineer, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that I no longer had to trade off cost, weight, strength, performance, durability and aesthetics. I got all of those in one part. It both excites and scares you at the same time, and I call it the ‘epiphany of disruption’.
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What do you think will continue to drive the additive revolution?

I mentioned the ‘epiphany of disruption’, there’s a moment that an engineer or businessman realises if they don’t react, they are going to become irrelevant and that typically leads them to jump in. That’s what’s happened to me and I’ve seen it happen to many others.

What excites you most about additive manufacturing?

First, the ability to create things that were impossible or unimaginable previously. Second, the technology will keep disrupting a lot of other technologies as well as itself. Third, just hanging out with young engineers and designers who have no fear and keep pushing the envelope.

Engaging with the next generation keeps your mind and soul very fresh and open. I learn as much from them as they do from me, probably more. I was supposed to retire in October 2016, but I’m so honoured and lucky to be involved in this, I just couldn’t walk away. It’s such an exciting time.