*2.1. Scope*

Designers would welcome receiving feedback regarding the impact of design features—typically modelled in CAD software—is on the production process, as there is no information on the printed product cost as well as on its delivery. A series of part characteristics need to be considered, including their geometry and technical specifications. The first features that need to be checked, before a specific AM is considered for producing a part, are its external dimensions and the minimum wall thickness. In particular, each part will have a maximum x, y, and z dimension, which will dictate the appropriate build volume requirement for that part. This is of importance to AM machine selection, as each machine will have a maximum build envelope and recommended minimum wall thickness.

Designers are also typically not aware of the capabilities and performance characteristics of diverse AM equipment and technologies. They usually do not have enough knowledge about the different process configurations of each available machine that are suitable for the part designs. Furthermore, they do not have access to information pertaining to the machines' availability as well as to their cost, time performance capabilities and to their process parameters options.

Although many different AM technologies and equipment are available from a number of third-party companies or cooperating suppliers, there is no way of comparing the high number of the resulting process configurations, comprising of different materials, specifications, and supplier/machine options, other than obtaining this information by receiving bids directly from the available suppliers. However, this is a time-consuming process on which product or part designers have little or no control at all.
