Description
This research on creating an easy design system is a development from the consumers’ potential to actively designing their own desired products and thereby empowering them to manufacture the products independently using an Additive Manufacturing (AM) machine / 3D printer. Recent developments in the field of AM / 3D printing (cheaper machines and new materials) have led to a renewed interest from the general public in manufacturing customised products. Although these technologies can enhance the understanding of non-technology compliant consumers and bring the manufacturing process closer to them, they need to be able to create 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) models as an input, which in normal circumstances would require a lengthy period of specialist training. Consequently, to make AM / 3D printing more reliable and easier to operate by consumers, design tools need to be developed to be as simple as possible to be operated, in the same manner as entry-level AM /3D printing technologies. This study suggests Computer Aided Consumer Design (CaCODE) systems as user friendly design tools which can simplify the CAD stages needed to produce the 3D model data required for AM / 3D printing processes.| Period | 7 Mar 2013 |
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| Event title | Loughborough University Research Conference 2013: Research That Matters |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Loughborough, United Kingdom |
| Degree of Recognition | Local |