Screening Process for Additive Manufacturing

SME project (Yovinn): Johan Lagerlöf
Start: 2019

One of the many ways Additive Manufacturing (AM, Industrial 3D-printing) can enable sustainability in vehicles in the coming years is by enabling a more effective spare parts value chain and enabling low-quantity upgrades for existing vehicles. The objective is to find out which parts are useful to consider for additive manufacturing based on 3D CAD data. The project is a collaboration with Volvo Cars Global Customer Service that handles aftermarket service and spare parts. An AI system based on standard image recognition is used to replicate experts opinions, in this case engineers with knowledge about industrial 3D-printing, to minimise manual screening. This project will focus on one or a few 3D-printing technologies that show the most potential from a technical and economical point of view providing a proof-of-concept for an automation software for AM screening. There is also an objective of the project to have a general approach to be able to use this method for other tasks where 3D CAD is being evaluated.