Organization of events and courses based on Additive Manufacturing

After having had the opportunity to study how the AM laboratories in the four analyzed countries are organized and managed, it has been observed that most of the laboratories, developed in terms of investments made for the diffusion of the AM in the academic field, hold and offer courses of various kinds to increase their revenue streams. These courses vary in length, knowledge level and audience. As a matter of fact, there are courses that can last more than a month and others a few days more, they are based from basic to advanced level and in terms of audience, from the company to the private professional up to the students. Following will be presented different types of courses offered by different European universities identified during the market analysis previously presented.

5.4.2.1 Long-term Additive Manufacturing course aimed at Companies

Rwth Aachen German University offers customized seminars to companies allowing them to choose to follow those topics in which they are most interested. These are seminars and courses that can be organized according to the needs of the company and are exclusively aimed at a professional education in Additive Manufacturing. In particular, they are seminars for company employees such as technology and corporate managers, product developers and members of the R&D department, based on their specific needs and individual level of knowledge. ACAM offers different types of courses, from beginner to expert, through the execution of different modules chosen by the same company according to their needs. (198) The following are the different types of modules, as show in figure 29:

• Basic Modules: The basic modules transmit the theoretical approaches and describe them as the fundamental AM applications of a specific topic and are primarily aimed at those new-comers companies to AM. They provide a deepening of the existing AM technologies, on the AM market with its cost structure and its business models, followed by a deepening of the Design and the AM software. (198)

• Advance Modules: After acquiring a foundation on AM knowledge, the university offers advanced courses aimed at extending the qualification of participants around a specific AM topic. The main topics covered are the materials used in the AM production processes, tests

for the use of AM software for the design of final products and further information on post processing for AM. (198)

• Experience Modules: These modules provide the opportunity for participants to acquire an even deeper understanding of specific topics. As a matter of fact, we move from theory to practice in the laboratory, having the opportunity to see live the application of technologies or by carrying out the design of projects with AM software. Finally, they provide an opportunity to explore the particular aspects of production processes, to know the best practices and communicate directly with the machine operators. (198)

Figure 29: ACAM in house modules

5.4.2.2 Additive Manufacturing Summer University course aimed at students

The TU Berlin every 6 months organizes a 4-weeks intensive course with 18 hours per week for up to 15 students, mainly coming from the faculty of engineering but also faculties such as design

and fine art, who want to approach and deepen their knowledge related to Additive Manufacturing.

Specifically, the course is aimed at all those students interested in 3D scanning, printing technologies and those who want to explore the work with professional 3D printing technologies and learn about current applications. (199) The course price is around 2300 € and includes exclusively the course. The prerequisites for attending the course are as follows: at least having attended a university year, having a level of English B2 or equivalent and a basic knowledge of CAD software in order to be able to handle 3D modelling software. The course is mainly structured as follows:

• Introduction to manufacturing 3D printed objects with the laser sintering system and the powder printer of the 3D Lab. (199)

• Data generation and preparation for these technologies

• Application in the Lab by gaining basic knowledge of the use of two professional 3D printers based on two different AM technologies, structured light scanners and related software. (199)

5.4.2.3 Short-term Additive Manufacturing course aimed at professionals

The AM course organized in collaboration with Aconity3D and Xilloc in the Fraunhofer Institute of Research in Aachen is a state-of-the-art 2 days+ 3 days Lab experience, from 9AM to 17 PM, once a week. It costs 3245 € and includes a 5-days flexible course and lunch. Furthermore, the course is mainly aimed at manufacturers, product engineers, project leaders and design products and designers. (200) The main contents of the course divided into 5 days are shown below:

• Day 1 State of the Art Additive Manufacturing and its Materials: introduction of AM technologies and global developments; View of most important metal AM processes; View of common metal Materials for AM and their mechanical properties; Identification of business cases and economic potential for AM. (200)

• Day 2 Process deep dive and Design for Additive Manufacturing: Introduction of most important Process Parameters; Understand major process possibilities and restrictions;

Deducing of Design rules from acquired knowledge; Interactive Design study on exemplified part; Future prospects of AM. (200)

• Day 3 Xilloc Factory: Introduction in Polymer AM and its technologies; Understand major process possibilities and restrictions; Deducing of Design rules from acquired knowledge;

Guided tour through the Xilloc Factory; Introduction of post processing possibilities and Quality assurance; Understand the cost structure for polymer AM processes; Future of Polymer AM processes. (200)

• Day 4 Software solutions and job preparation: Understanding the possibilities and limitations of the STL file format; Get to know supporting Design tools: Topology Optimization; Hands- On Software Training on market leading Software Magics; Prepare individualized part for Lab Day; Understand the cost structure for AM processes. (200)

• Day 5 Lab Day in Aachen: Preparing a metal AM job: Do’s and don’ts; Start a job with self-prepared parts; Guided Lab Tour Aconity3D and Fraunhofer Research Institute;

Introduction of post processing possibilities and Quality assurance; Unpacking your own manufactured part. (200)