Maturity of Metal Processes
Race of the technologies
Metal Additive Manufacturing is often associated with Laser or Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion process. However, there are more than 18 different technology principles identified today. While some of these principles are in an early development stage, many are successfully used in industrial set-ups or it is expected that they will find a viable niche as manufacturing technology.
To be successful in using metal Additive Manufacturing, it is highly important to choose the right established or new manufacturing technology. Therefore, this chapter provides an overview on upcoming technology principles and assesses their potential.
Industrialization and Technology Maturity Index
Evaluation with maturity index
To evaluate the different AM technologies AMPOWER has developed a model to characterize the maturity of an Additive Manufacturing technology based on two indices. The Industrialization Maturity Index and the Technology Maturity Index describe and compare the capabilities and adoption rate of each AM technology in the industrial environment. Both indices are crucial factors for evaluating the current status of any AM technology.
- The Technology Maturity Index evaluates the process capability, system reliability and availability as well as implemented quality control measures.
- The Industrialization Index assesses the supply chain, material availability, installed system base, public knowledge and research as well as standardization of each technology.
Each category is weighted according to its specific importance. Typically, the technological maturity increases first, and the industrialization follows. A detailed description of the current state of maturity is given in the deep dive section for each technology.
Technologies with AM Maturity Index “Prototype system” are still at an early development stage with in-house systems only or on the verge of first systems at beta-customers. Many of the technologies in this corridor are proprietary AM principles or just recently made public.
At a Maturity Index of “First application”, industrial adoption takes place and users introduce the technology in their R&D departments or machines are set up for pre serial production trials at beta-customers.
Technologies at a Maturity Index of “Industrial use” are on the verge of full industrialization. Technologies in this area have not yet been widely adopted as a serial manufacturing technology across multiple industries.
To reach “Widespread industrial use” the technology must be established in multiple industries as a production technology for functional end parts.
Due the industrial focus, AMPOWER does not rate technologies that are still in the proof-of-concept stage.
Read more about this topic in the Metal Technologies Course.