IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2015 - 84

Pérès et al. present the role that AM could play in
spare parts logistics with respect to the creation of parts
in situ and on demand to isolated system [34]. This isolation could be in terms of geographic constraints but also
in terms of time. Examples of isolated systems are space
missions, and old equipment [34]. Time isolation can be
caused by, for example, changes in technology or company liquidation, which could lead to unavailable parts
such as automotive components for older model cars
[34]. It is argued that this gap could be covered by additive manufacturing considering that the technology can
produce these parts regardless of this isolation as long as
there is a digital model and applicable printer available to
manufacture the part. This would thereby increase availability and potentially increasing the operational life span

AM technology holds the potential
to repair or replace damaged or
diseased human tissue and organs by
enabling the production of organized
tissue constructs.

of machinery [34]. The use of AM is therefore advocated
for several reasons: quick adaption, fast production,
supervision not being needed during production, repeatability, and the use of various materials [34].

Singular Parts
AM also offers functional benefits in which the technology liberates designers from traditional design constraints enabling unprecedented design possibilities
[17], [35]. This way of design implies that AM not only
allows for the production of already existing parts, e.g.,
spare parts, but also for the production of completely
new designs. One example of this is provided in Formula 1 racing, where AM offered the possibility of redesigning a part making it more efficient, and increasing
performance by 250% compared to the traditional part
[30]. Moreover, AM realized a weight reduction apart
from and in addition to the improved functionality, and
the part in question was made fully of metal [30].
As these parts are produced without traditional tooling equipment, there is no minimal amount to produce
to amortize the costs of tooling equipment, which makes
this custom manufacturing more cost effective [36].
Although concerns are raised regarding the mechanical properties of especially safety critical AM parts [9],

considerable research is currently being conducted to
test performance in demanding settings.

Bio Constructs
Research on utilizing AM as a means to manufacture cellcontaining constructs has been successfully completed
[37], [38]. In more concrete terms, AM can assist in preparing complex scaffolds used for tissue engineering in a
computer controlled fashion, with precise geometries that
enable the creation of anatomically shaped implants [38].
In practical terms this means that AM technology
holds the potential to repair or replace damaged or diseased human tissue and organs by enabling the production of organized tissue constructs [38]. This flexibility
allows for designs that are fully interconnected 3D structures with predetermined dimensions and porosity [39].
It enables the production of tissue parts, organ parts,
biomaterial, tissue scaffolds, and bio agents through
assembly and consecutive culturing [37], as well as
blood vessels [40]. This culturing is either done in vivo
(within) or in vitro (in glass).
Other research has been conducted on the possible
role of AM in drug development. Rowe et al. were successful in developing 3D printed oral drugs with complex release profiles that would have been difficult to
acquire had traditional approaches been adopted due to
formulation flexibility [41].
The production of edible constructs, i.e., food
through additive manufacturing is also being investigated. Utilizing AM as a means of food production enables
the creation of new forms in food and the opportunity
to embed colors, textures, and flavors in new ways [42].
The geometrical freedom is evident in the work from
Hao et al. who developed chocolate products through
AM [43]. Lipton et al. pursued the production of traditional recipes that are suitable for conventional post
processing using AM [44].It was demonstrated that food
such as turkey, celery, and scallops can be created with
complex geometries, but require post processing (traditional cooking) [44]. Moreover, Lipton et al. present
cake forms with an embedded graphic [44]. It is even
envisioned that AM technology, and the opportunities
it offers in relation to mass customization, will enable
engineering food in a way that fits personalized dietary,
nutrient, and health requirements [42].

µ Structures
AM can also be utilized in micro machining and the
production of micro components [45]. AM namely allows
for the production of complex 3D microstructures that
fall in the micro scale [46]. It is possible to produce two
or three-dimensional functional structures that could be
5 mm or less with dimension resolutions below 50 μm
[47]. In terms of device properties, these can be tailored

IEEE TEchnology and SocIETy MagazInE

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september 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2015