The Integration and Validation of Additive Layer Manufactured (ALM) Components

Dear Colleagues,

Additive layer manufacturing is a process that involves the net-shape fabrication of a three-dimensional structure by fusing metal or polymer powders, metal or polymer wires and liquids and with a high-energy heat source or catalyst on a layer-by-layer basis to enable the production of highly-detailed components that would not be possible to make using traditional manufacturing methods.

Additive layer manufacturing is rapidly becoming the manufacturing method of choice for complex, high performance and difficult to machine components and assemblies as the additive manufacturing approach brings certain benefits, such as the realization of free-form geometries, complex internal features, minimal material usage and compressed lead times to name a few.

However, as these metal alloy or polymer based components become more complex, the post-processing and pre-production certification for these parts need to reflect more closely the process of manufacturing. In order to validate components as fit for purpose, new and innovative approaches are needed for the inspection of such parts.

Comprehensive study is required to fully understand the variables involved in producing complex ALM components from both metals and polymers, to include: Quality of incoming materials and final material/ component characteristics, effect of process variability, effects of post processing operations, cause and effect associated with process change, use of non-destructive testing (NDT) etc.

This Special Issue aims to collate contributions from scientists, production engineers and manufacturing specialists from around the world, researching ALM with the common goal of enriching the knowledge-base that will lead to the production of higher quality and more predictable additively-manufactured components.

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Additive layer manufacturing
• 3D printing
• Powder based ALM
• Material deposition
• Filament based manufacture
• Liquid based ALM
• ALM materials
• Process verification
• Component validation
• Nondestructive testing