THE SPECIFICS OF APPLYING 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY FOR MANUFACTURING COMPONENTS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS

Abstract

The current state of mechanical engineering from the perspective of the growing needs for rapid manufacturing of complex and individualized structural elements in robotics was examined. The limitations of traditional methods, such as machining, forming, and casting, have been justified with respect to their constraints on development speed and the variability of design solutions for complex components in drives and actuators of industrial robotic manipulators. It has been noted that additive 3D printing technologies enable these limitations to be overcome, allowing the implementation of complex engineering concepts and the creation of fundamentally new types of machines, contributing to the advancement of the robotics industry. Based on the analysis of recent scientific studies by various authors, the introduction of high-speed additive processes has been highlighted as a key direction in the development of modern mechanical engineering, particularly in robotics. The features of 3D printing application throughout the product lifecycle, from concept formation to preparation for mass production, was described. The extent of 3D printing utilization and unresolved technical challenges associated with additive technologies have been analyzed, including material selection, ensuring the required mechanical properties of printed elements, and optimization of post-processing procedures. Special attention has been paid to the identification and systematization of the features of additive technology application for component manufacturing in mechanical engineering and robotics, as well as to the generalization of practical results and the definition of prospects for further technology development. Major areas of 3D printing use have been studied in detail, including rapid prototyping, production of complex-configuration components, manufacturing of tooling, and elements of robotic systems. Examples of functional prototype creation using high-performance materials have been provided, and the prospects for 3D printing of metallic components have been outlined. Contemporary technological approaches, including the integration of multi-axis robotic complexes enabling the formation of complex geometries without support structures and allowing large-scale elements to be produced in a single manufacturing cycle, was separately analyzed.