Additive Manufacturing for Complex and Lightweight Mechanical Components: Process Reliability and Integrated Workflows

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing is receiving increasing attention in the modern mechanical engineering field due to its capability to fabricate complex geometry, lightweight structures, or customised components. Compared with traditional manufacturing techniques, AM constructs parts layer by layer based on digital models, has more flexibility in design and better utilisation of materials. From the perspective of mechanical engineering applications, this paper gives a review of the core principles, advantages and limitations, as well as technological development of AM. It is found that AM is more suitable for certain mechanical engineering issues, such as structurally complex problems, functional integration, and high-value small-batch production. But the above-mentioned problems would also restrict the wide range of applications in the industry, such as material anisotropy, low production power, high costs and poor surface quality. The results show that AM should be seen, rather than as a universal method, as an important manufactured way, and its future development depends heavily on improving reliability and combining with common manufacturing technologies.