Posts in Articles
Dr. Kirk Rogers - Expert Lead on AM for Castings, Training, Materials & More

Meet TBGA technical innovator and adept thinker Dr. Kirk Rogers, TBGA’s expert lead on AM for castings, training, facility safety, and materials! His involvement and eagerness to share his additive insights and knowledge are a true representation of the passion he has for this industry. He has been instrumental in facilitating TBGA's Purdue Additive Manufacturing Certificate program and supporting in-person training for customers.

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Why Move to Additive Manufacturing?

To AM or not to AM? That is the question. All new technology requires a balance of evangelism and pragmatism. The suite of processes known as additive manufacturing is no different. We must understand the art of the possible but also balance that with the technical requirements, qualification plans, business case, and people and skills required for success.

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ArticlesAllie Kunkel
Tim Simpson’s AM Training, Design and Innovation Journey

While TBGA ADDvisor® Tim Simpson is winding down one role with AM Magazine, he’s taking on a new adventure as co-host of AM Radio. This is the Tim we know – a jack of all trades – enlightening the AM community with training, design, and innovation expertise. He specializes in design for additive manufacturing, and has helped train and educate more than 1500 industry practitioners to realize AM’s unique value proposition in aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, defense, energy, medical, oil and gas and space industries.

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John Barnes on the Importance of Materials Innovation to AM’s Evolution

As additive manufacturing’s influence permeates wider industrial circles and more companies consider the benefits it may bring, providing them with the knowledge and tools to push further innovation will be imperative. John Barnes, Founder of The Barnes Global Advisors and CEO of Metal Powder Works, discusses how his two businesses are driving integral change in the field. 

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ArticlesAllie Kunkel
The Cummings and Goings of Chelsea – Software, Hardware, Design

Often as a boots-on-the-ground ADDvisor®, Chelsea derives most of her experience from testing hardware and software to aid in AM design optimization. Her goals center around learning how various user-workflows impact design for various applications. By orienting design around process principles and target part performance, she can tailor optimization to parts across diverse use-cases.

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Little Wins Create Value in Additive Manufacturing

One of the more useful aids I have seen for this discussion is the AM Maturity Model that John Barnes sketched on the back of a napkin when he began The Barnes Global Advisors five years ago (see image). The model has withstood the test of time, and I refer to it frequently in the AM training that I run with the team as their Educational ADDvisor.

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ArticlesAllie Kunkel
25 Years Later, What’s Exciting in Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion?

Lasers and electron beams have been competing for applications for more than half a century when both became viable technologies to precision weld metals. Electron beams produced a deeper weld penetration, but needed vacuum to prevent scattering of the beam, which meant an expensive vacuum chamber limited the size of applications. Lasers had a smaller weld penetration, didn’t require vacuum and were not limited by chambers, but were susceptible to gas contamination. They both had their value propositions and applications, though, as noted, pop culture only popularized one.

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ArticlesAllie Kunkel
Laura Ely Champions AM at IMTS and Beyond

TBGA ADDvisor® Laura Ely has many superpowers, but her most notable is delivering intriguing content, bringing value to any discussion! Her recent panel and presentation at IMTS were no exception. From training additive manufacturing workforce to the supply chain’s vital role in metal additive manufacturing qualification, Laura championed insightful discussions from her breadth of leadership experience, industry knowledge and passion for optimizing manufacturing processes.

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