Additive Manufacturing

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ABS Additive Manufacturing Guide

Establishes a consistent approach to a three-dimensional printing of marine and offshore materials and equipment.

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Reshaping Part Construction

The latest innovation in manufacturing, additive manufacturing, is the fabrication of parts by adding material layer by layer. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, can shrink the supply chain and lead times for specialized and complex parts, introducing new efficiencies driven by design innovation, reduced manufacturing time and improvements in parts availability.

Additive manufacturing enables production of a small number of parts locally, quickly and economically, relative to traditional manufacturing. These technologies also enable testing and production of design features that are too expensive or impractical using traditional manufacturing techniques, such as casting or forging. 

The ABS Guide for Additive Manufacturing defines a procedure for qualifying additive manufactured parts, as well as the processes and systems used to create them, including powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition.

The Guide defines the ABS approval and certification process for additive manufacturing facilities and parts by providing standards for additive manufacturing design, feedstock material, building processes, inspection and testing.

Central to the Guide is a methodology that helps part design owners and manufacturers improve overall process definition, thereby driving repeatable and reliable results. In developing the Guide, ABS recognized the importance of flexibility in additive manufacturing, and outlined a process that allows for swift changes and alterations without affecting the ultimate quality.



Benefits of Additive Manufacturing

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  • Shortens supply chain lead time
  • Provides flexibility in design of end-use parts
  • Allows for the production of parts in small batch quantities
  • Augments traditional manufacturing processes