AM Application Examples

Reasons for recommendation
by business type

Business type	Reasons for recommending acquisition of AM skills
Contract manufacturers	Mastering AM skills enables them to suggest products with higher added value to their customers. It can also bring new business opportunities that capitalize on AM technology.
Those running design firms or belonging to design sections	Prototyping of designed parts can be done in-house, which leads to shorter development cycle and less cost
Those designing/ manufacturing dies & molds	Die/mold with higher added value such as one with a complex cooling pipe can be manufactured. (Conformal cooling pipe)
Those running prototype firms or belonging to prototype sections	With no fixture or tool required, shorter production lead time can be achieved.
Those planning and selling products by themselves	Unrestricted product design is possible.

Workpiece	Business	Advantages of use of AM	Benefits brought by AM	Advantages
Die & Mold	Die & Mold	A piping shape that is not possible by conventional drilling achieved	Longer die/mold life achieved thanks to "conformal cooling," a process in which cooling pipes are arranged along the molded surfaces	Less cost Special shape
Wheel carrier for racing cars	Vehicle	Unrestricted design made possible by an analysis of unnecessary parts in a vehicle structure	40% lighter weight as a result of design review by topology optimization	Less cost Special shape Lightweight
Grinding nozzle for machine tools	Industrial equipment	Complex shapes which used to require machining of multiple workpieces achieved	Fewer parts and lighter weight achieved by redesigning of a structure	Less cost Special shape Fewer parts Lightweight
Artificial bone	Medical	Flexible production achieved with high-mix low-volume production	Products tailored to individual patients	Less cost Special shape
Tool holder	Tool	Creation of hollow shapes which are difficult to cut by SM achieved.	30% lighter weight through design optimization Coolant pipes arranged inside for higher cooling performance	Special shape Lightweight High accuracy
Aircraft parts	Aerospace	Workpieces which needs to be divided into several pieces to avoid interference during cutting achieved	Fewer assembly processes achieved by creating a unit consisting of several components as a single workpiece.	Special shape Fewer parts Lightweight