A novel selection framework of joining technologies for metal additive manufacturing

ABSTRACT: Additive Manufacturing (AM) faces process limitations such as build-volume restriction and thermal distortion. While AM favors integral design, certain restrictions can be overcome by combining differential design with subsequent joining technologies (JT). Yet little is known about suitable JT selection in AM. To bridge this gap, established JT selection frameworks from conventional manufacturing (CM) were examined and adapted to AM. The resulting framework supports JT selection in AM based on joint design and AM-specific criteria while remaining applicable to CM and enabling combined designs.