Additive manufacturing: Demonstrating design freedom

The bottle opener is designed and printed so as to minimise brace structure by making angles self-supporting. During the manufacturing process, the piece builds from a single point and employs minimalist branch like structures, instead of solid walls. This mass-reducing design ensures a quicker build, whilst maintaining structural integrity.

The bottle opener was made using a process called laser melting. This is a digitally driven additive manufacturing technique that uses focused laser energy to fuse metallic powders into 3D objects. 

Product marketing manager, David Ewing, says: "The accuracy and sustainability that additive manufacturing offers, when weighed against the minimal human interaction required, is unparalleled. Similarly, the level of complexity we can achieve with this emerging technology is proving extremely useful to industries in which detail is crucial. The medical and aerospace sectors have already seen such benefits.

"This is a perfect illustration of the use of AM in manufacturing, rather than just prototyping, but also demonstrates the design freedom it provides. AM is an ideal way to produce mass customised products, highly tailored products and one-off items. It’s for the production floor now – not just the drawing board," concluded Ewing      

Renishaw made the headlines when it collaborated with leading British bicycle design and manufacturing company Empire Cycles, to produce a 3D printed metal bike frame. The frame was produced using additive manufacturing in titanium alloy and weighed in 33% lighter than the original model.