A Functional Classification Framework for the Conceptual Design of Additive Manufacturing Technologies

Abstract

Many different additive manufacturing (AM) technologies enable the realization of prototypes and fully-functional artifacts. Although very different in solution principle and embodiment, significant functional commonality exists among the technologies. This commonality affords the authors an opportunity to propose a new classification framework for additive manufacturing technologies. Specifically, by following the systematic abstraction approach proposed by the design methodology of Pahl and Beitz, the authors first identify the working principles of each AM process. A morphological matrix is then employed to functionally present these principles such that commonalities between processes can be identified. In addition to using it as a means of classifying existing processes, the authors present the framework as a tool to aid a designer in the conceptual design of new additive manufacturing technologies. The authors close the paper with an example of such an implementation; specifically, the conceptual design of a novel means of obtaining metal artifacts from three-dimensional printing.