Learn the Engineering Behind Additive Manufacturing at New ASME ConferenceLearn the Engineering Behind Additive Manufacturing at New ASME Conference

The first additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing (3DP) conference sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is here: the 2015 ASME Additive Manufacturing + 3D Printing Conference (AM3D) in Boston, to be held August 2 - 5. AM3D 2015 will be co-located with the ASME's ongoing International Design and Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC) and Computers & Information in Engineering Conference (CIE).

The ASME has long had advanced manufacturing as one of its key strategic priorities, Raj Manchanda, director of the ASME's advanced manufacturing segment, told Design News. "Even before America Makes and the other NNMI [National Network for Manufacturing Innovation] institutes were launched, we had ASME fellows involved," he said. "Our experts worked with the White House to formulate the nation’s advanced manufacturing strategy. Tom Kurfess, for example, was an ASME Fellow during 2012-2013, serving as assistant director for advanced manufacturing at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. As a global organization, we want to make sure that the best and most viable ideas are supported with resources."

As a neutral convener, the organization wants to facilitate the adoption of new technologies so they can be commercialized into an ecosystem, Manchanda said. The ASME's research indicated that, in particular, the engineering knowhow to properly utilize AM was not being provided adequately. That's how the first AM3D conference was born. Designed specifically for engineers, the conference program is organized around the product development process, since AM is transforming every phase of it.

Keynote speakers include well-known innovators and leaders in AM: Bruce Bradshaw, vice president of marketing at Stratasys; Jason Lopes, lead systems engineer of Legacy Effects; and Hod Lipson, now professor at Columbia University, who previously headed the Creative Machines Lab at Cornell University.

The conference will include several special events. One of the major highlights will be the panel discussion, "AM Roadmaps," which will feature the unveiling of the America Makes Additive Manufacturing Technology Roadmap, which is designed to identify measurable and meaningful challenges that, when met, will promote inquiry, knowledge sharing, and technical advancements across the industry.

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The Technology Roadmap is broken down into five technical focus areas: design, material, process, value chain, and the AM genome. The AM genome establishes benchmarks for validation, using physics-based computer model simulations and model-based predictions to validate parts. The Technology Roadmap will feature prominently in fulfilling the Institute’s mission to innovate and accelerate AM and 3DP to increase America's global manufacturing competitiveness, Creehan said. R&D investments made to date by America Makes -- because of the roadmapping process against the discovered needs, gaps, and opportunities -- are yielding impactful outcomes and innovative results. Over time, America Makes anticipates that the Technology Roadmap will evolve and expand to determine and drive future technical focus areas pursued by the institute.

Also to be unveiled at the event, during a separate panel discussion on Wednesday (August 5), is the America Makes Workforce/Education Roadmap.

Other special events include the Monday (August 3) afternoon panel session: "Standards, Pathways for Progress." "This session will feature various standards development organizations discussing the very challenging topic of how standards can be applied to this rapidly changing but still nascent industry," Israr Kabir, ASME program manager of emerging technologies, told Design News. In addition, there will be a tour of MIT's Mechanical Engineering and Media Lab and a panel discussion on AM Founders and Futurists, both on Wednesday.

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All full conference registrants will be automatically entered in a drawing to win a Form1+ 3D printer, said Kabir. The winner of this year's drawing will accept the prize on stage at noon on Monday, August 3. Any attendee completing the exhibit passport card at this year's conference exhibition will be automatically entered in a raffle to win a MakerBot Mini 3D printer. "The basis for the 3D printer giveaway is to act as a promotion for our event, but also to give back to our attendees to allow them to use this technology as a potential solution for their design projects," Kabir said. "Many of our attendees know about AM, but have used it sparingly -- this helps to get them started down the AM path."

You can download a brochure about the conference here.

Ann R. Thryft is senior technology editor, materials & assembly, for Design News. She's been writing about manufacturing- and electronics-related technologies for 27 years, covering manufacturing materials & processes, alternative energy, and robotics. In the past, she's also written about machine vision and all kinds of communications.