Process and resource selection methodology in design for additive manufacturing

This paper deals with an integrated design approach for additive manufacturing (AM), as a design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) approach. This DfAM approach focuses on two important activities of manufacturability analysis, as well as material and process selection in the concept of concurrent engineering and integrated design approach (CE/ID). It could be considered as a guideline for the researchers in the early phase of the product development process. For this purpose, a novel process and resource selection problem for AM is formalized as an additive manufacturing process and resource selection problem (AMPRSP). This problem is defined to investigate simultaneously the manufacturability, and process and resource selection issues for AM. A multi-criteria evaluation system (MCES) is proposed to solve this problem by evaluating the manufacturability of the product, and selecting the AM resources. Firstly, the AM process, machine, and material are explored and selected regarding technical and economic evaluation criteria. Then, the most appropriate alternative for fabrication with AM is selected by considering the sub-criteria including build time, accuracy performance, and cost. To solve this multi-criteria problem, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is employed. Overall, this evaluation system is a step-by-step methodology that includes screening, comparative assessment, and a ranking process to select the most suitable alternative for AMPRSP. Finally, the proposed approach is illustrated by an industrial case study.