Volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM) has emerged as a promising manufacturing method capable of printing structures with high accuracy and short print time. This method mitigates some of the drawbacks of conventional additive manufacturing methods, such as low surface quality and the requirement of support structures for complex geometries. Despite its many advantages, VAM suffers from a lack of resolution for fine structures. Furthermore, while the method has improved the surface quality, it still suffers from surface effects called striations, similar to layering effects in conventional methods. To further improve the capabilities of VAM and address its limitations, it is necessary to gain a better understanding of the underlying physics and to optimize the parameters that play a role in this fabrication method. So far, only a few analytical equations based on simplified assumptions have been proposed to provide insight into the effects of some variables. While these simplified models may aid in gaining a general understanding of the working principles, they are far from ideal. Herein, for the first time, a numerical method based on the energy threshold model has been proposed to predict the shape of the printed part in VAM. After generating images on the ground of the computed axial lithography algorithm, the images are fed into the simulation code, which incorporates the fluid flow in the energy threshold model to predict the actinic energy build-up within the domain. The method put forward here looks promising in predicting the final shape and tailoring the parameters to achieve the desired results in VAM

Powder Bed Fusion of Metals with Laser Beam (PBF-LB/M) offers the possibility to manufacture various complex geometries with integrated functions in one build job independent of tools. However, due to the long process duration and high machine investment, hourly machine cost rates are an obstacle to positive business cases. One idea to reduce machine cost per part is to additively generate a shell geometry with a loose powder core to decrease PBF‑LB/M process time in a first step and achieve high density in another step by Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP). This idea to use hybrid manufacturing leads to a trade-off between reduced manufacturing costs for PBF-LB/M and additional manufacturing costs for HIP. In this work, the cost saving potential of a shell-core strategy is quantified for sample parts. This provides information whether investigating the technological challenges of PBF-LB/M manufactured shell-core geometries and subsequent HIP makes sense in further research from an economic perspective.

This paper presents an innovative way to customize silicone products by utilizing a design automation process and extrusion-based silicone 3D printing as a manufacturing technique. A customizable rehabilitation glove for stroke patients is used as an example to demonstrate the process chain. Soft robotics offers unique possibilities for the use of rehabilitation devices in a homecare setting and has the potential to support the healing process throughout the different steps of neurorehabilitation. Furthermore, customization of such devices can make physical therapy more comfortable and effective for the patient. The presented process chain combines pose detection with parametric design in order to adapt a glove consisting of soft bending actuators to the hand of a patient, which can be manufactured in a single day.

NiTi is a versatile material with a broad range of functional properties such as shape memory effect and superelasticity in combination with high internal damping capabilities and biocompatibility. Processing NiTi with powder bed fusion for metals (PBF-LB/M) enables new potential to solve engineering problems. Due to the layerwise manufacturing technique associated with additive manufacturing, complex shaped geometries can be realized, which are not possible with conventional manufacturing methods. Hence, the combination of functional material characteristics with powder bed fusion has high potential for novel applications and complex structures. In this work, potential and performance of manufacturing complex NiTi structures is demonstrated.