Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Additive Manufacturing (AM) refers to the technologies that use Computer Aided Design
(CAD) data to produce plastic, metal, ceramic, paper, wax or composite materials parts.
Their ability to join thin layers of liquid, powder or sheet materials together permits the
production of parts, which are difficult or even impossible to produce, using any other
manufacturing method. Even though these technologies are still developing, they are
considered a major breakthrough in industry.
One of the main problems that is facing the improvement and the spread of AM
technologies, and its benefits worldwide, is the lack of knowledge about them. Still a lot of
countries, educational and industrial organizations do not even know about AM
technologies. This lack of knowledge of such technologies is keeping their cost artificially
high, which is limiting the access to more AM advanced technologies and materials. It also
makes it difficult to market the technologies and those who do not use AM technologies yet
become unable to compete against those who do.
The numbers of AM systems are continually growing, their capabilities and applications are
improving and their cost is decreasing. Today there are more than 40 companies that
produce over 100 different systems in Canada, China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy,
Japan, South Korea, Sweden and the United States. These systems vary in their strengths,
defects, applications, functions and limitations. This growth has led to an increase in current
and potential users of AM from both the manufacturing and educational sectors. These
users are however facing increasing complex problems when it comes to selecting the most
appropriate commercial system(s) to suit their needs.
The aim of this study is to develop an AM system selection program. The program will
serve both as an educational tool and a decision making support tool to assist any potential
purchasers in both the educational and industrial sectors. The AM system selection
program is divided into two sections: the learning section and the selecting section. The
learning section introduces the AM technologies by imparting knowledge to the new users;
moreover, it inspires them to start using these technologies to get their benefits. Having a
background in AM technologies enables the new users to make educated decisions and to
discuss technical issues about the systems with the providers. The selecting section offers a decision making support tool to help the users to decide which system best suits their
needs. This study can contribute to the promotion of AM technologies and their benefits
worldwide, especially for the countries and organizations that have not yet used such
technologies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toevoegende vervaardiging verwys na al die tegnologie wat rekenaargesteunde ontwerp
data gebruik om plastiek, metaal, keramiek, papier, saamgestelde materiale en waks parte
te vervaardig. Die vermoë van die tegnologie om dun lae vloeistof, poeier of plaatmateriaal
op mekaar te verbind laat die vervaardiging van parte wat moeilik of selfs onmoontlik is,
deur die gebruik van ander vervaardigingsmetodes. Alhoewel hierdie tegnologieë nog in ‘n
ontwikkelingsfase is, word dit as ‘n reuse deurbraak vir die bedryf beskou.
Die verbetering, verspreiding en voordele van die tegnologie word hoofsaaklik belemmer
deur ‘n tekort aan inligting daaroor. Baie lande, akademiese en industrieële organisasies is
nog nie eens bewus dat sulke tegnologieë bestaan nie. Die tekort aan inligting veroorsaak
dat kostes hoog bly en verhoed die vinnige uitbreiding van nog meer gevorderde
tegnologieë en materiale. Verder bemoeilik dit ook die bemarking van die tegnologieë.
Die aantal toevoegende vervaardigingsmasjiene groei jaarliks met beter vermoëns, laer
kostes en ‘n groter verskeidenheid van toepassings. Tans is daar meer as 40 vervaardigers
wat meer as 100 verskillende masjiene vervaardig in Kanada, China, Frankryk, Duitsland,
Israel, Italië, Japan, Suid-Korea, Swede en Amerika. Al die masjiene verskil ten opsigte van
hul funksies, beperkings en ook ten opsigte van sterkte, materiale en toepassings van
parte. Die groei het gelei tot ‘n toename in gebruik van die tegnologie deur huidige en
potensiële nuwe gebruikers van beide die vervaardigings en akademiese sektore. Die
keuse van ‘n geskikte sisteem wat aan al ‘n gebruiker se vereistes voldoen, raak elke dag
meer kompleks.
Die doel van hierdie studie is die ontwikkeling van ‘n seleksie program vir toevoegende
vervaardigingmasjiene. Die program sal dien as ‘n opleidingshulpmiddel en as ‘n basis vir
masjienseleksie deur potensiële kopers. Die program bestaan uit twee dele: die
opleidingsgedeelte en die selekteringsgedeelte. Die opleidingsgedeelte beskryf die
verskeie toevoegende prosesse en motiveer gebruikers om die tegnologie aan te skaf
weens die voordele. ‘n Agtergrond oor die verskeie tegnologieë stel die gebruiker in staat
om ingeligte besluite te neem en tegniese vrae te kan stel aan verskaffers. Die
selekteringsdeel het ‘n besluitnemingstruktuur wat help om die regte masjien te kies ten
opsigte van verlangde vereistes.
Hierdie studie kan help met die bevordering van toevoegende tegnologieë en hul voordele,
veral vir lande en organisasies wat nog nooit voorheen sulke tegnologieë gebruik het nie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4336 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Husam, Shames |
| Contributors | Dimitrov, D. M., Van der Merwe, A. F., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 77 p. : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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