Additive Technologies - The Basis of Digital Custom Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing technologies, also known as 3D printing, have demonstrated a tremendous growth for the past 30 years, since the development of the first polymer machines to manufacturing functional metal parts with advanced characteristics and 3D-bioprinting. This study presents and describes the developed approach for the production of an individual designed hip prosthesis based on titanium alloy using additive manufacturing technologies. For the hip prosthesis manufacturing it was applied the selective laser melting technology, and titanium alloy powders containing 6 % aluminum and 4 % vanadium as selected raw materials produced by gas and plasma atomization technologies. It is presented the influence of selective laser melting modes on the quality of samples. Evaluation of the microstructure and phase composition of the compacted material before and after heat treatment have been made. It is showed the way, in accordance with the conception of fully digital production, for creation and manufacturing of customized products.