Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Presentation to u3a Broxbourne  - 20^th Feb 2025

Title: "Additive Manufacturing ” which is being presented by Alan Fitzgerald.

Synopsis: 3-D Printing or to give it its proper name ”Additive Manufacturing” has been around for over 30-years. It’s a technology where ‘impossible’ components or items are made up from depositing layers of material together, building up to the final desired shape. Originally only plastic based materials could be used , but today a raft of metals are used as well. The talk will cover the early developments of the technology, the various technologies in use and some interesting examples that may surprise you.

Our speaker: Alan has been a member of IMechE for over 50-years and a Fellow for 30-years. He has served on many of the IMechE committees during that time including the Professional Review Committee (PRC), Formula Student and currently on the Accreditation Panel. His career started as an Apprentice Draughtsman in London, and he has subsequently worked for both American-based IT organisations and European Engineering companies, and he finished his full-time working career at Kingston University, London and Aston University, Birmingham (where he still works 1-day a week Supervising MSc Professional Engineering programmes).