Additive manufacturing

Three researchers in a lab with 3D-printer.
The lab with 3D printer for metal products at Linköping University. Photo: Teiksma Buseva

Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing or freeform manufacturing, is a relatively new production method that has revolutionized the manufacturing industry. With this technology, manufacturers can create components directly from a CAD model in an automatic manner.

Additive manufacturing makes it possible to create new innovative materials but also to create components with extremely complex geometries. There are many different techniques in additive manufacturing, such as powder bed technology, stereolithography and fused deposition modeling (FDM).

Metallics and other materials

Everyone uses different methods to create the finished products. In powder bed technology, the components are built up layer by layer. This is done by melting parts of each powder layer with a laser or electron beam. This technology is used not only for metallic products, but also for the manufacture of products in polymers and other materials.

Research is needed

Mechanical properties of components manufactured using additive manufacturing may differ from those of components manufactured using conventional techniques. This depends on the inherent complexity of the techniques and on many different process parameters, such as layer thickness, energy density, scanning strategy, build speed and preheating temperature.

In order to introduce additive manufacturing for critical and highly stressed products, it is necessary to understand how the process affects, for example, fatigue properties and damage resistance.

The project is a collaboration with IMA, SAAB, Siemens Energy, AM Printservice, Curt Nicolin Gymnasiet, Etteplan, Interspectral and Swemac.

Research projects

In the heat chamber in the 3D-printer for prints in metal.

The Swedish Arena for Additive Manufacturing of Metals - Conference 2025

Welcome to this academic conference at Linköping University, arranged by the Swedish Arena for Additive Manufacturing of Metals.

Three male scientist in laboratory

The art of printing a hip bone

Being able to 3D print various products may change processes in various areas, from the manufacturing industry to healthcare.

3D products in black material

IEI invests in additive manufacturing

A new 3D printer, a Wematter Gravity, enables more students in various engineering courses to have high quality plastic components quickly manufactured . At LiU can now also conduct more research in 3D printing.

A young men in the lab, computer screens in the background.

Researcher dives deep into the hidden world of stainless steel

Luqing Cui is passionate about materials science, more specifically the mechanical properties of metal alloys. His work is dedicated to understanding stainless steel at a submicron scale where so called cell structures are formed.

Close-up on a material being tested in the lab.

Innovative and cost-effective manufacturing out of autoclave for composite

This research project aims to present a method that could use conventional materials in OOA (out of autoclave) manufacturing for composite.

Dunyong Deng, researcher in Engineering Materials.

Additive manufacture changes materials

Additive manufacture in combination with nickel-based superalloys can be used in the production of high-temperature products. New research increases our knowledge of new manufacturing methods and how these change the properties of materials.

Freemelt One

Photo of 3D printer for metal printing.

One of the largermanufacturers of EB-PBF machines is Freemelt, with their flagship Freemelt One. 

Freemelts machines are open source, which provides the user with the possibility to change and produce anything within the limits of the machine. Freemelt One also utilizes a vacuum chamber, which creates a clean and stable environment in the build chamber without the need for an inert gas. Another advantage of the Freemelt One is the possibility to add additional components to the machine, such as temperature sensors, cameras, or other utilities in any of the machine’s additional inlets.

Specifications

  • Open source
  • Beam powder 0-6 kW
  • Beam acceleration voltage 60 kV
  • Back-scatter detector
  • Build volume 100mm x 100 mm Ø
  • Extension possibilities with additional heat sensors and other inlets
  • Possibilities for custom installation.

Research group

Organisation