This is a post by Cat McClintock on PTC site.
Additive manufacturing (a.k.a. 3D printing) gives you a great deal of flexibility as you design and optimize parts. You might initially think of flexible polymer parts when you think of the 3D printing process. However, the kind of objects you typically produce with a 3D printer (think prototypes, one-offs, short run productions, or shapes that don’t lend themselves to traditional manufacturing) may be better suited to stronger, more heat-resistant materials—metals.
You’ll want to perform simulation on your designs to ensure they’ll withstand various stresses. Since metal has different properties than plastic, there will be different considerations with the metal printing, simulation, and analysis process. Keep reading to learn more about the considerations associated with the metal additive manufacturing process.
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