Manufacturing parts for the trucking industry has always been a vital aspect of keeping trucks on the road and keeping companies profitable. The quicker and more efficiently the parts can be made and installed, the better. Over time, the ways these parts have been produced have changed.

In the past, most or all of the parts used in the manufacturing and repair of transportation fleet vehicles have been created using a subtractive method. This essentially involved “carving out” pieces from metal or plastic materials. This led to a lot of wasted materials that could only be recycled to a certain extent.

Today, additive manufacturing is making it easier than ever to develop and manufacture essential parts. The additive method involves adding materials, layer by layer, to create the needed parts, wasting little to no materials in the process.

Additive manufacturing and its advantages

Countless benefits can be attributed to additive manufacturing for the trucking industry. A few perks of switching to additive manufacturing for parts may include:

• Lightweight parts – For businesses that look to lighten the load, additively manufactured parts can be made of lighter materials while maintaining the integrity of alternative parts.
• Faster manufacturing – Creating parts of trucks can be done quickly using an additive method compared to a subtractive one.
• Lower production costs – Additive manufacturing allows companies to easily develop parts at a lower price point due to the lack of material losses in the manufacturing process.
• Similar strength levels – Additive parts have been developed and tested using a variety of materials and have been shown to match or even exceed the strength of subtractive parts.
• Less environmental impact – The entire manufacturing process is streamlined with additive manufacturing, lowering the overall environmental impact.
• Faster development – This technology allows developers to create small models of a part and test them before moving on to full-scale models, saving time and energy.
• Increased domestic production – The cost and material savings that come with additive manufacturing make it more feasible to keep manufacturing jobs state-side.

Companies that utilize additive manufacturing in their parts development will see a variety of benefits that help the environment, their employees, and their bottom line.

The tools involved with additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing relies on many different tools to create durable parts that are made just as well as traditional parts. An additive manufacturer will utilize a mix of tools and materials to create precise parts for their client’s exact needs.

Many additively manufactured parts can be developed using 3D software. These programs allow developers to design the parts to perfection before going into production. If changes are needed later, they can be made in the software and new parts can be created.

3D printers are commonplace in additive manufacturing. These devices are loaded with powder and the necessary materials and used to create the parts themselves. Layer by layer, the parts are printed, wasting little to no materials whatsoever. A 3D printer simply needs to be large enough to fit the manufactured part in order to create it.

Powders for the 3D printer are essential to the production process. These powders make it possible to manufacture parts using the 3D printer. Mixed with the necessary materials for the parts, the powder aids in the printing process and ensures that the parts are made to be durable and long-lasting.

Just like in traditional manufacturing, the produced parts will only be as good as their materials. Additive manufacturers are able to utilize everything from nickel and cobalt to aluminum and steel to manufacture their parts. If a company has a specific material blend in mind, an additive manufacturer should be able to use it to create the parts they need.

Expectations of additive manufacturing in the coming years

A report published in 2018 by the Aerospace Technology Institute stated that 35% of the additive manufacturing market will be driven by the automotive and aerospace industries. This is a huge percentage of the overall market, playing a huge role in how we travel and how goods are delivered.

Another report stated that additive manufacturing could lower CO2 emissions by up to 525.5 megatons by the year 2025. In a world that is becoming increasingly aware of its carbon footprint, this can only be seen as a positive.

Trust Fitzgerald for your additive manufacturing needs

Fitzgerald Manufacturing Partners has the latest technology available to perform additive manufacturing services for any business. We can develop the most complex parts with the highest-grade materials. Our team brings years of experience to every project, and we’re always developing our processes for better efficiency.

Learn more about our additive manufacturing services and contact us to discuss your needs.