Additive manufacturing (3D printing)

Additive manufacturing (AM, often referred to as"3D printing") is a class of fast-growing production technologies which provide new opportunities for the industry and other sectors, such as healthcare. SINTEF has many activities in the AM field, together with Norwegian and international industry.

Contact persons

Erik Andreassen

Senior Research Scientist
Vegard Brøtan

Research Manager

What is additive manufacturing (3D printing)?

Additive manufacturing is a production method where an object is built layer by layer based on a digital 3D model.

Additive technology allows for possibilities in construction and design that have previously been unattainable.

By using this technology, you can produce cost-effective products that have a lower environmental footprint.

Additive Manufacturing

Here are some of the benefits of additive manufacturing

The technology is flexible and can be used to build complex parts in a short time.
Little material is used compared to traditional production.
Additive manufacturing can be combined with and complement conventional production methods.

What is SINTEF doing in the field of Additive Manufacturing?

SINTEF is involved in many aspects of AM and associated technologies. The topics range from material development and "analysis-based design for additive manufacturing" to assessing product properties and developing new applications.

SINTEF also has facilities for AM trials, both lab/R&D equipment and industrial machines. Some facilities are shared with NTNU, which is an important partner in many projects.

SINTEF's expertise in Additive Manufacturing

SINTEF has broad expertise in AM via research groups in Trondheim, Oslo, Raufoss and Porsgrunn.

SINTEF's expertise covers areas such as process/machine technology, materials technology, numerical simulations, digitalization aspects, standardization and new business models.

Based on this, SINTEF can help various industry segments to make use of AM.

Some key words about SINTEF's expertise and projects:

General expertise in industrial additive and hybrid processes, as well as associated materials and material properties (metals and plastics/composites)
Standardization and industrialization
Simulation tools for AM, e.g. topology optimization of components and simulation of AM processes
Digital support for AM
Molds/tooling made with AM
AM of reactors etc to the chemical process industry
AM in the construction industry
Bioprinting
AM with functional ceramic materials

Additive Manufacturing Robot in SINTEF

Expertise

Additive manufacturing (AM) – Processes and machines

SINTEF has been in the AM field since the first machines appeared in the late 1980s. SINTEF has experience with various AM process categories, and associated machines ("3D printers"). SINTEF has machines for R&D purposes and some industrial machines.

Additive manufacturing (AM) – Materials and material properties

SINTEF has experience in AM with the most common materials for such processes, and SINTEF is also establishing/developing new materials for AM. Furthermore, characterization and testing of materials and products made by AM has been a topic in many...

Simulation tools for additive manufacturing (AM)

SINTEF uses various numerical simulation tools in combination with physical understanding and practical experience. This can, for example, be simulation of AM processes in order to improve component quality, or topology optimization of a component's...

Algorithms for Digital Twins in Additive Manufacturing (AM)

A digital twin for additive manufacturing (AM) fuses data from part design, function and process simulation, and process monitoring for supporting quality control and certification of parts.

The digital value chain for additive manufacturing (AM)

AM is the latest step in a long chain of digital processes using many different digital formats. The physical part is manufactured with a selected AM process, controlled by a process plan and selected process parameters. On the way from idea to...

Additive manufacturing (AM) of spare parts and additive repair processes

Companies from different sectors have seen the potential in making spare parts with AM, and SINTEF is cooperating with several of these. The spare parts can then be produced on demand, and they can also be produced locally. You can then avoid having...

3D bioprinting, and additive manufacturing (AM) for health/medicine applications in general

SINTEF is involved in all stages of bioprinting, from the development and optimization of materials, to the development of three-dimensional structures containing cells, and the analysis of the printed structures with in vitro assays.