Imagine you can 3D-print almost any shape you want, but nobody can tell you whether it will break under vibration or repeated use. That's the problem engineers face today — the research on 3D printing is locked in academic papers, not translated into the simple checklists designers actually use. A_MADAM brought universities and SMEs together to test how 3D-printed parts handle fatigue, impacts, and cracking, then turned those findings into straightforward design rules that any mechanical engineer can follow.
Engineers want to use 3D printing for functional parts but lack reliable design rules for predicting how those parts behave under repeated stress, impacts, and fatigue. Without such rules, designers default to conventional manufacturing — even when 3D printing would offer better geometry, lower cost, or faster turnaround. This gap between AM research and practical engineering use is holding back industrial adoption across multiple sectors.
The project produced systematic test data on the dynamic mechanical properties (fatigue, fracture mechanics, impact resistance) of parts manufactured by selective laser sintering. Concrete deliverables include an initial set of prototype samples for standard mechanical tests and a final set of SLS samples used for dynamic behaviour examination, alongside 11 total deliverables translating these findings into engineering design rules.
If you are an aerospace parts supplier dealing with uncertainty about whether your 3D-printed components can handle cyclic loading — this project developed design rules for fatigue and fracture mechanics of additively manufactured parts. With 3 industrial SME partners involved in the research, the rules were shaped by real production needs, not just lab theory.
If you are an automotive tooling company worried that your 3D-printed jigs and fixtures might fail under repeated impact — this project systematically tested impact resistance of parts produced by selective laser sintering. The consortium of 5 partners across 4 countries tested multiple sample sets specifically to quantify dynamic mechanical behaviour.
If you are a medical device manufacturer needing to prove your 3D-printed products meet fatigue-life requirements — this project created rule sets covering fatigue, fracture mechanics, and impact resistance. The results translate directly into the kind of engineering evidence regulators expect when certifying load-bearing devices.
The project was publicly funded under MSCA-RISE with EUR 468,000 in EU contribution. Design rules developed under such programmes are typically published openly. Contact the coordinator at the University of Kragujevac for specific licensing or collaboration terms.
The rules were developed with 3 SME partners who use additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, and rapid tooling — so they reflect real production scenarios, not just lab conditions. However, validation at high-volume serial production scale would likely require additional testing specific to your parts.
IP from MSCA-RISE projects is typically shared among consortium partners according to their grant agreement. The consortium includes 2 universities and 3 SMEs across 4 countries (Serbia, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina). Contact the coordinating university for IP access details.
Based on the deliverable descriptions, the project focused on selective laser sintering (SLS). Samples were produced by SLS for examination of dynamic behaviour. Applicability to other AM processes like FDM or SLA would need separate validation.
The project systematically studied three dynamic properties: fatigue life, fracture mechanics, and impact resistance. These are the properties most critical for parts that experience repeated loading or sudden shocks in service.
The project ran from 2017 to 2021 and is now closed. The design rule sets should be available through published papers and project outputs. Based on available project data, 11 deliverables were produced including final sample test sets, suggesting the work reached completion.
The consortium is compact — 5 partners from 4 countries (Serbia, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina) with a strong 60% industry ratio. Three of the five partners are SMEs actively using additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping, manufacturing, and tooling, which means the design rules were shaped by companies that actually print parts for customers, not just by academics. The coordinator is the Faculty of Mechanical and Civil Engineering at the University of Kragujevac in Serbia. The mix of 2 universities and 3 industrial SMEs was specifically chosen to enable two-way knowledge transfer — researchers provide the science, SMEs provide the production reality. For a business looking to adopt these rules, the SME partners are likely the most relevant contacts since they already apply AM commercially.
Faculty of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, University of Kragujevac (Serbia) — reach out to the AM research group for access to design rule publications and collaboration.
Want to know if these additive manufacturing design rules apply to your production? SciTransfer can connect you with the research team and help evaluate the fit for your specific parts and processes.
