SAE EPR2021023

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as "3D printing," has transitioned from concepts and prototypes to part-for-part substitution--and now to the creation of part geometries that can only be made using AM. As a wide range of mobility OEMs begin to introduce AM parts into their products, the question between insourcing and outsourcing the manufacturing of AM parts has surfaced. Just like parts made using other technologies, AM parts can require significant post-processing operations. Therefore, as AM supply chains begin to develop, the sourcing of AM part building and their post-processing becomes an unsettled and important issue.

Unsettled Aspects of Insourcing and Outsourcing Additive Manufacturing discusses the approaches and trade-offs of the different sourcing options for production hardware for multiple scenarios, including both metallic and polymer technologies and components.