Wohlers Associates partners with the Québec Industrial Research Centre on DfAM training course
May 9, 2018
An example of effective design for AM, this hydraulic manifold is used in an Airbus A380 spoiler. Left was conventionally-machined, right was redesigned for and produced by AM. A weight reduction of 55% was achieved and the part flew in March 2017 (Courtesy Liebherr and Airbus)
Wohlers Associates, Inc., Denver, Colorado, USA, has entered into a partnership with Québec Industrial Research Centre (CRIQ) to offer, for what is said to be the first time in Canada, three days of intensive training on Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM). The course is targeted at designers, engineers, and managers wanting to learn how to design parts that fully benefit from the possibilities offered by AM.
“We are very excited about holding this training in Canada in partnership with such a great research institution,” stated Terry Wohlers, President of Wohlers Associates. “AM is changing the face of modern manufacturing, but it requires professionals that can design complex shapes and understand the full AM production process. This is why our DfAM course was created,” he explained. Wohlers Associates and lead instructor and DfAM expert Olaf Diegel have conducted the course for NASA, Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery, Materialise and others.
With its globally recognised aerospace and automotive sectors, Wohlers Associates stated that Canada could benefit greatly from a more skilled AM workforce. Montreal is the home of a number of early adopters in AM technology, as well as companies involved in the AM supply chain. According to Denis Hardy, President and CEO of the CRIQ, “The CRIQ has always been ahead of the curve in the adoption and commercialisation of new technologies. Partnering with organisations such as Wohlers Associates to train our workers is part of our strategic mission to help companies transition to innovative manufacturing.”
Topics covered in the training include part consolidation, topology optimisation, lattice/mesh structures, best practices and DfAM rules and guidelines. Participants will gain valuable hands-on experience by designing parts for Additive Manufacturing and building them using industrial AM equipment during the course.
The course will take place at the CRIQ’s Montreal research facility on June 12–14, 2018. Further details are available via the centre’s website.
