Steel 3D-Printing : Evaluation of Metal Additive Manufacturing(MAM) capabilities on Automotive Spares

Abstract: The primary intention behind performing this thesis is to identify possibilities of implementing Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM) in automotive industries in spare part manufacturing. This project tries to analyse the differences between conventional and contemporary manufacturing techniques. The industrial partner we worked with, Frauenthal Gnotec AB, specializes in traditional manufacturing techniques for making automobile spare parts primarily by stamping. Hence, a large building area is required to store the die and materials. Automobile spare parts are manufactured by demand. The organization has to have the die and material ready to go, forcing it to expand its inventories, workforce, and transportation, causing substantial financial liabilities.  The projects include a wide range of information from the different scientific articles, Journals, and consultations with AM services, Professors, and Technicians. The thesis studied the various available options in MAM and compared its specification with our client's requirements. The project estimates the cost, time for printing the components, thermo-mechanical properties, and structural properties of the component and its feasibility.   The project helped us put our theoretical knowledge about MAM into practice. It was very significant for us to have the opportunity to work with Frauenthal Gnotec AB, one of the leading automobile spare parts manufacturers in Sweden. Examine and evaluate their manufacturing and production strategies, which was very helpful for us in determining the efficacy of our efforts. Our scientific study, based on various simulations, optimizations, mechanical tests, and cost estimates, found MAM to be a promising future technology for the automotive industry.