AM Process Selector
Not sure which AM process fits your part? Set material, geometry, quantity, and priorities — ranked, scored list of viable processes with hard exclusion reasons.
Open toolSingle-purpose calculators with formulas shown and sources cited. 14 included in the Member tier. Pro tier unlocks all 48.
Not sure which AM process fits your part? Set material, geometry, quantity, and priorities — ranked, scored list of viable processes with hard exclusion reasons.
Open toolCompute LPBF VED from power, scan speed, hatch, and layer thickness. Includes process windows for common alloys.
Aggressive / typical / conservative design windows per process — walls, holes, overhangs, supports, text. Type your design value to check it live.
Pick a material, process, and part type — get a photorealistic AI render in seconds. Free preview of additive.tools' AI capabilities. 1 render per day (free).
Open toolTheoretical Ra and Rz from layer thickness and surface angle (staircase effect). Upward, downward, and vertical faces. LPBF, SLS, FDM, SLA, DED. Per Grimm et al.
Standard stress-relief, solution, and aging cycles for AM metals (Ti-6Al-4V, IN718, 17-4PH, AlSi10Mg, 316L, CuCrZr) per AMS, ASTM F3301, and AMS 5664.
Actual extrusion width from nozzle diameter, layer height, and flow rate multiplier. Wall perimeter count from nominal thickness. FFF/FDM design rule compliance check.
IIW and Pcm carbon equivalent for AM and DED steels. Preheating temperature estimate per EN ISO 13916 and AWS D1.1. Printability / weld-crack risk flag.
Select the right non-destructive testing method for your AM part. Inputs: material class, defect focus, geometry, production volume, and criticality. Ranked scorecard across CT, X-ray, UT, FPI, MPI, eddy current, and visual inspection with detection limits and standard references.
Open toolDeposition rate, bead geometry, and heat input for Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing. MIG-WAAM, TIG-WAAM, and CMT process variants. Inputs: wire diameter, wire feed speed, travel speed, voltage, current.
Open toolExpected dimensional deviation (mean bias ± 1σ) for XY and Z axes by process, material class, and geometry type. Based on aggregated published accuracy datasets. Answers: what tolerance can I realistically hold?
Open toolEstimate cycles, processing time, and Ra reduction curve for Abrasive Flow Machining of AM internal channels — first public AFM planning tool.
Estimate cutting time, kerf, recast-layer depth, and surface finish for separating AM parts from build plates and cutting hardened AM metal.
Estimate wet-electropolishing time and material removal to reach a target Ra on AM stainless, titanium, cobalt-chrome, nickel, and aluminium parts.
Per-process build time from part volume, layer count, and machine throughput. LPBF, SLS, FDM, SLA, DED, binder presets included.
Machine hourly + material + labor + post-processing → unit cost with margin. Currency-agnostic.
Visual reference for BCC, FCC, octet-truss, gyroid, and Schwartz-P lattices. Property cards at any relative density plus AI renders via Flux 1.1 Pro for design reviews and stakeholder presentations.
Sign in to unlockDescribe an AM part, generate a photorealistic AI render, refine the description, and compare up to 6 design variations side by side. Faster than CAD for early-stage concept exploration.
Sign in to unlockDescribe your part in plain English → AI generates a 3D model → estimated mass pre-fills Cost-Per-Part and Build Time calculators. No CAD file needed.
Sign in to unlockTotal cost of ownership: derive the effective $/h machine rate from purchase, depreciation, maintenance, facility, consumables, and power. Includes utilization sensitivity.
kgCO₂e per part across ecoinvent, IDEMAT, ICE, and GREET LCA databases × IEA, EPA eGRID, DEFRA, Ember grid factors. Cradle-to-gate, ISO 14067.
Build-chamber utilisation, virgin powder consumption, refresh cost, and cost/part for SLS and MJF. EOS P396, HP MJF 5200/4200, Farsoon 403P presets.
Compute SLA cure depth from Cd = Dp × ln(E₀/Ec). Resin presets and full working-curve sensitivity table.
Estimate metal LPBF support volume, mass, and total cost from overhang area, angle, and infill density. Angle sensitivity table included.
BCC, octet-truss, gyroid, Schwartz-P relative density and Gibson-Ashby stiffness/strength scaling. SA/V ratio for heat exchangers and scaffolds.
Estimate residual stress and distortion risk index (σ/σ_y) for LPBF and DED builds. Mercelis-Kruth model with preheat sensitivity table.
Score all 6 build orientations against overhang, surface quality, accuracy, build time, and mechanical load direction. Works for LPBF, SLS, FDM, SLA, binder jet, DED.
Sign in to unlockLPBF / DED melt pool depth, width, and cooling rate from the Rosenthal moving heat source solution. Absorptivity, thermal diffusivity, and solidification velocity.
Per-axis scale factors for sintering (binder jet, MIM-AM) and resin cure (SLA/DLP) shrinkage. Inputs: green density, target density, material class.
Sign in to unlockPattern × density × material cost. Quick feasibility for FFF prints.
Sign in to unlockHausner ratio, Carr compressibility index, and Jenike flow factor from apparent/tap density measurements. Pass/marginal/fail for LPBF, SLS, and DED feedstock.
Sign in to unlockRecommended HIP temperature, pressure, and dwell time for AM metals per ASTM F3301, AMS 2801, and DEF STAN 02-835. Covers Ti alloys, Ni superalloys, steels.
Sign in to unlockS-N curve estimation for AM metals using the Basquin law. Accounts for surface roughness stress concentration (Kt from Ra), build direction anisotropy, and porosity factor.
AM-enabled conformal cooling for injection moulds — heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number (Dittus-Boelter), pressure drop (Darcy-Weisbach), and cycle time reduction vs. straight-drilled.
Sign in to unlockGiven annual quantity, part complexity, lead time, and capex threshold — score AM in-house vs. outsource vs. conventional manufacture. Break-even volume analysis.
Sign in to unlockFind printable alternatives when your preferred AM alloy is unavailable or unsuitable. Weighted scoring across strength, ductility, cost, temperature, and processability.
Sign in to unlockDerive LPBF process parameters from target VED and melt-pool stability constraints. Power–speed–hatch–layer sensitivity matrix with keyholing and balling risk zones.
Sign in to unlockWorst-case and RSS tolerance stack-up for AM assemblies. Accounts for build shrinkage, warpage, and post-machining allowances. GD&T-aware with AM-specific bias offsets.
Sign in to unlockBottom-up cycle time for AM post-processing: stress relief, plate removal, support removal, HIP, heat treatment, surface finishing, and inspection. Per-part and batch modes.
Sign in to unlockCompare build cost and throughput across up to 4 AM machines simultaneously. Same part, different machines — cost/part, time/part, and annual capacity at target utilisation.
Sign in to unlockVisual reference for 8 common AM defects: lack-of-fusion, keyhole porosity, balling, delamination, warping, residual stress, surface roughness, and satellite particles. Root causes, fixes, and AI-generated microscopy-style renders.
Sign in to unlockPredict lack-of-fusion and keyhole porosity from laser parameters. Maps VED and normalised enthalpy to relative density and flags dangerous regimes.
Sign in to unlockScore a powder batch against key qualification metrics — particle size distribution, flowability, apparent/tap density, moisture, and oxygen content.
Sign in to unlockRank post-print surface treatments (shot peening, electropolishing, tumbling, PVD, and more) against Ra target, material, fatigue criticality, and corrosion requirements.
Sign in to unlockExpected microstructure for LPBF, EBM, SLS, FDM, and DED × common AM alloys and polymers. Grain morphology, phase content, grain size, and heat treatment requirements with AI microscopy renders.
Sign in to unlockCompare LPBF, EBM, SLS, FDM, DED, MJF, and Binder Jetting side-by-side: layer thickness, material families, surface roughness, cost drivers, and AI-generated part renders for each process.
Sign in to unlockGenerate a structured AM quote from part specs: process, material, volume, quantity, complexity, and post-processing. Material, machine, setup, and post-processing cost breakdown with PDF export.
Sign in to unlockModel oxygen content over powder reuse cycles, find the virgin-refresh ratio that holds within spec (ASTM F2924/F3001), and the cycles before powder goes out of spec.
Parameter envelopes, defect modes, and material compatibility — traceable to peer-reviewed sources.