Critical Analyses of Cost Models used in Metal Additive Manufacturing

To increase the adoption of metal additive manufacturing, reliable and standardised cost estimation models are required to guide decision-making during the product development process. Currently a multitude of cost and business models are available that have been developed for specific components, specific applications, and the different types of additive manufacturing processes. Given the specific nature of these models, they are often unsuitable for use by companies that are considering the application of additive manufacturing beyond the boundaries of the models. This study provides a critical analysis of existing cost modelling approaches in the field of metal additive manufacturing and aims to increase understanding of how cost contributors are identified and cost significance is attributed.