ASTM AM CoE to host DfAM course in Colorado
ASTM International’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) is hosting a three-day course on Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) in Golden, Colorado, USA. The course, titled ‘Design at Elevation’, will be instructed by Olaf Diegel and Terry Wohlers of Wohlers Associates, and takes place June 24 – 26, 2026.
The course introduces DfAM practices, integrating traditional engineering guidelines with simulation, and optimisation tools increasingly used in advanced AM workflows. Participants will learn both foundational design rules and how modern software tools use generative design, machine learning, and automated build preparation to accelerate the development of high-quality, functional AM parts.
The course covers practical design guidelines developed over the past two decades. It also covers how AI-enabled tools can augment engineering judgment during part design, optimisation, and process planning. Participants will explore design principles for a range of AM processes and materials, with an emphasis on producing reliable, manufacturable parts.
Topics include minimum wall thicknesses, smallest diameters for pins and holes, design and manufacturing of screw threads, clearances for moving assemblies, support minimisation, and the management of overhanging features. Advanced software tools will be used to analyse shapes and geometric features, perform lightweight design optimisation, including lattice structures, suggest design improvements, and optimise parts for performance, weight reduction, and manufacturability.
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The course will also feature hands-on exercises focused on the design of real parts and products, while preparing them for production on industrial AM equipment. Parts will be produced during the course, and participants will gain first-hand experience in post-processing the parts (i.e. removing support structures). It will also introduce build preparation workflows, including automated orientation, support material generation, and process parameter recommendations.
The full agenda is available here.
Those interested in attending can register here.
