Hybrid manufacturing 3D printing and injection moulding in the pursuit of mass customization

Abstract

Project Overview: Mass customization is a marketing and manufacturing technique which combines the flexibility and personalization of custom-made products with the low unit costs associated with mass production. The technique allows the consumer to purchase items more in keeping with their individual need and sense of taste. 3D printing is a versatile technique to create parts designed in complex shapes with particular structure and various properties. Injection moulding is a well-established process that produces mass-volume products with very high precision. Our approach is to combine both 3D printing and injection moulding processes for the mass customization of parts. Our first steps is to investigate the influence of processing parameters on mechanical performance.