Influences of additive manufacturing on design processes for customised products

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) has a high impact on the fabrication of customised components of a product, but has not been sufficiently analysed for the implications of AM for design processes. The paper presents AM-specific influences to customised design processes. A gradual range of product design processes for different levels of customization through AM was derived, from elaborated individualisation processes in standardised individualisation to specific product adaptation. The characteristics of the two types are detailed and applied in a case for personalised vascular replications.