Additive manufacturing (AM) has been used to produce complex parts usually in small batch sizes. Recently, AM has been gaining importance with the development of new production technologies encompassing a wider range of materials. These new technologies allow broader AM application in the industry, beyond traditional usage in rapid prototyping. As a result, the number of parts being produced by AM technologies has been increasing. The differences among AM production technologies and the specific capabilities and restrictions of each available manufacturing machine result in complex manufacturing process definition. Moreover, process technology knowledge in the area is still limited to few professionals. In order to support process manufacturing to evaluate which AM technology would be best suited to produce a particular part, this paper presents a method for selecting the AM process based on the technical specifications of a part. The method relies on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to rank the most appropriate technologies and machines. Relevant parameters of the main machines available in the market were raised. These parameters are considered in the selection of machines able to produce a particular part considering its specifications. Practical applications of the method resulted in adequate responses to support manufacturing process definition.

This article aims to provide a literature review regarding sustainability in additive manufacturing. The purpose is to understand the literature main structure concerning sustainability in additive manufacturing in order to identify the field's key challenges. The article employees a systematic literature review on the main topics of sustainability in additive manufacturing. Data were collected in one of the main data bases considering the journal impact factor reports. Articles on the subject were searched and retrieved, and a content analysis was carried out. An evaluation of the challenges in this field was also performed. Additive manufacturing potentially impacts the productive process sustainability in various manners. Several are the research challenges in this field of studies. The literature on sustainability in manufacture presents numerous indicators. However, the literature on sustainability in additive manufacture lacks quantitative research to evaluate these proposed indicators. It is necessary to perform quantitative research in order to evaluate the adequacy of additive manufacturing. This literature review shows multiple additive manufacture impacts on sustainability. Promising studies point out some of these impacts, although there are still some sustainability research gaps on additive manufacturing. This article presents some of these gaps thus allowing researchers to identify research opportunities.

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Manufatura aditiva compreende uma classe de processos de produção com aplicação crescente em diversas áreas e cadeias produtivas. Devido à flexibilidade para a produção em baixos lotes e versatilidade de materiais e geometrias, essa tecnologia é tida como capaz de revolucionar processos produtivos e de alterar estratégias de produção atualmente empregadas. Entretanto, sob o rótulo genérico de manufatura aditiva existem diferentes tecnologias, materiais e áreas de aplicações, com requisitos diferentes. Tendo em vista a crescente importância da manufatura aditiva como processo de produção e considerando a necessidade de se ter maior discernimento sobre potenciais aplicações para o direcionamento de esforços de pesquisa e de desenvolvimento, este artigo apresenta uma proposta de organização das aplicações da manufatura aditiva em sete áreas. Adicionalmente, o artigo traça um panorama do estágio atual de desenvolvimento da tecnologia, com uma revisão das principais variantes tecnológicas. Os resultados apresentados servem como base para auxiliar o direcionamento de iniciativas na área de manufatura aditiva tanto em empresas como em órgãos de fomento e em instituições de pesquisa. Palavras-chave: Manufatura aditiva. Tecnologia de produção. Inovação em manufatura. Additive manufacturing encompasses a class of production processes with increasing applications in different areas and supply chains. Due to its flexibility for production in small batches and the versatility of materials and geometries, this technology is recognized as being capable of revolutionizing the production processes as well as changing production strategies that are currently employed. However, there are different technologies under the generic label of additive manufacturing, materials and application areas with different requirements. Given the growing importance of additive manufacturing as a production process, and also considering the need to have a better insight into the potential applications for driving research and development efforts, this article presents a proposal of organization for additive manufacturing applications in seven areas. Additionally, the article provides a panorama of the current development stage of this technology, with a review of its major technological variants. The results presented aim to serve as a basis to support driving initiatives in additive manufacturing in companies, development agencies and research institutions.