Learn to Design for AM

In September and October, novices to additive manufacturing (AM) have the chance to take special DfAM (design for AM) courses to understand how to design parts and assemblies to take advantage of 3D printing. Offered in partnership with America Makes, the events are organized and led by Terry Wohlers, president of Wohlers Associates and other instructors. (Editor’s note: DE is also a media partner of America Makes.)

The two events are:

A three-day DfAM course in Frisco, CO, on September 11-13. 

A one-day DfAM course in Youngstown, OH, on October 24.

Wohlers Associates publishes the annual Wohlers Report that outlines the market trends and leading players in the AM industry. “The largest application of AM in 2018 is the production of end-use parts … Jigs, fixtures, and other forms of tooling—a combined 18.5%—represent an important range of applications that can save companies a tremendous amount of time and money,” according to the 2019 report.

To take advantage of AM to consolidate parts and reduce weight, the CAD geometry needs to be treated differently—a skill that early adopters need to acquire. The upcoming courses from Wohlers Associates cover topology optimization; creating lattice structures; and working with metal, polymer, and composite materials.

The organizers note that the courses are ideal for “those involved in aerospace, medical, motor sports, power/energy, industrial machinery, automotive, and consumer products.” The three-day course in Frisco, CO, includes a panel discussion to address attendee questions. The one-day course in Youngstown lists about 12 separate presentations and lectures, ranging from “State of the AM industry” to “Economics of AM.”

The three-day course invites participants to bring their own CAD software for the hands-on exercises. Organizers plan to use solidThinking Inspire (from Altair), Magics (from Materialise) and other software during this course. The one-day course, on the other hand, targets managers and executives, focusing on the economics and cost-benefit analysis of DfAM. CAD software and computers are not required for this event.

To register for the three-day course in Frisco, CO, click here. 

To register for the one-day course in Youngstown, click here.