Hybrid Additive Manufacturing (HAM) is the recent entrant to the manufacturing processes scene and it is here to stay. Let’s understand why:
- Bring Your Own Recipe
Hybrid Additive Manufacturing processes allow companies to create their own recipes of metals depending on their needs. This not only provides more flexibility but also reduces wastage and saves overheads.
- The Bliss of Power Deposition
HAM uses power deposition technology instead of powder bed technology. Power deposition is significantly faster and deposits material only where needed. While saving material and overheads, it also provides a better material quality in terms of density as well.
- Ready-to-use parts
The final product of HAM is ready to use and needs no further machining. Pretty neat eh?
- Low Upgradation Cost
The current hybrid manufacturing systems use machines built on the technically mature multi-axis manufacturing principle which allows you to build in any direction. This is good enough infrastructure for HAM.
However, no great technology is without its limitations. HAM is limited by the type of products that it can’t build like fine graded structures.
Which Industries will benefit the most from this tech?
- Aerospace Industry where HAM will reduce the super high material wastage.
- Medical Industry would be next in line considering the flexibility in personalized prosthetics production HAM can introduce.
- In general, any industry which needs complex spare parts and no economical way to get these parts will benefit from HAM as it will enable them to set up an in-house shop.
