Basics

Considering the complexity of the topic of additive manufacturing and its implications for product development, a methodology must structure and explain the technical as well as the operational process and recommend concrete methods for finding solutions. In this chapter, we will first discuss the structuring of the topic, the technology and the product creation process in general, as well as specific implications for the topic of additive manufacturing. The various aspects that support an engineer in the design process, such as the concrete procedure, heuristics and methods, tools, specifications and the connecting knowledge base, are then provided in the following chapters.