ITEAM is creating a virtual repository of additive manufacturing machines and materials, as well as tools to evaluate additive manufactured parts. The consortium is creating a methodology called SAM-CT (size, accuracy and materials + economic evaluation of cost and throughput). It addresses if something can and should be produced by additive manufacturing — or if better methods exist based on cost and throughput.
“One of the keys to determining whether 3D printing is a game changer will be the ability to totally redesign a part, or merge an assembly of parts and make the additive part a reality in production,” says Susan Smyth, PhD, FSME, GM chief scientist for manufacturing and 2017 SME Board of Directors secretary. “The challenge from the automotive community is the need for hardware, material innovation and availability of design tools to reinvent parts and morph assemblies for applications above and beyond prototype.”
ITEAM will also be a center and clearinghouse for design for additive manufacturing (AM) research, methodology, qualification and advancements, and will feature a virtual, open platform and evaluation tools to enable users to determine their parts’ suitability for 3D printing against the available machines and materials. This open platform will encourage the AM community to create specialized AM apps and share AM experiences and feedback.
“We regularly hear from our additive manufacturing user community on how emerging 3D technologies are allowing them to increase speed to market, produce stronger and lighter parts, improve efficiency, reduce waste, eliminate costly tooling and create products and geometries that couldn’t be created before,” says Debbie Holton, vice president of Events and Industry Strategy at SME.
“The information about additive machines and material capabilities that users need to make quality decisions is fragmented and expensive,” says Dr. Grieves, who is also the executive director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design at the Florida Institute of Technology. “This new future requires accurate, reliable and current information so users can make the best technical and economic decisions as to additive equipment and materials. SME is stepping up to the challenge of providing this capability with ITEAM.”
If you’d like to help ITEAM with its mission, you can join it as a foundational member and get first look and access to BETA versions of the SAM-CT system, access to industry leaders and experts developing the ITEAM system, and the ability to influence development through input and iterative design.
Below is a video about ITEAM:
[ Source: SME/Images: SME, Michael A. Parker]