(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-10) Mantel, Jessica Kirsten; Dimitrov, D. M.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Additive Manufacturing is a relatively young technology that involves the layer-by-layer addition of
material in solid, liquid or powder form to create parts. It is ideally suited for producing complex
parts with small production batches. The industrial applications of these techniques as well as the
advantages and disadvantages of Additive Manufacturing are explored and an overview of the
different Additive Manufacturing techniques is detailed. Selective Laser Melting is one Additive
Manufacturing technique that is discussed further and the characteristics of the M2 Laser CUSING
machine and the EOSINT M 270 machine are detailed. A capability profile of various Additive
Manufacturing machines is ultimately formed and this capability profile is used to identify the
applicability of the different machine types to the Tooling, Medical and Aerospace/Motor Industries.