Utilization of metal additive manufacturing (AM) in precision oriented mechanical part production

Metal additive manufacturing is an innovative technology that opens up new visions in any industrial field.This technology is growing rapidly, entering various industries every day. After over 30 years from the introduction ofmetal additive manufacturing into the industrial world, today’s demand is to make mechanical parts with highprecision by metal additive manufacturing. Until now, methods like high precision grinding or micro-machiningprocess were used to make precise dimensions in parts. Those methods have their own limits that could be eliminatedwith additive manufacturing. In this paper, attempts are made to compare conventional precise processes with metaladditive manufacturing from different aspects. Surface finish in these two categories is discussed and some advises forimproving the surface quality of metal additive manufacturing parts are proposed. Applicability and utilization ofmetal additive manufacturing as a precise metal fabrication method in various industries are also discussed.