Additive manufacturing (AM) is poised to transform how we design, develop, and manufacture products. Across the world, industry is recognizing the compelling value of AM and making major investments toward applications including high-performance aircraft and automotive components, customized medical devices, advanced tooling, and more. Yet, AM is still at the infancy of its impact. Soon, AM will be used to create products with unforeseen capabilities and will unite a digitally-driven production workflow that rapidly deploys advances in materials, process technologies, and computational tools. New and conventional manufacturing technologies will converge into flexible, distributed manufacturing networks that enable responsive production with reduced cost and risk.

The MIT Center for Additive and Digital Advanced Production Technologies (APT) aims to accelerate the implementation of AM and to invent its future. As such, APT convenes its members and MIT experts with a mission to: perform visionary research, continually and critically assess the status of AM technology, develop model-based decision tools and open strategic frameworks, build a vibrant academic-industry network including MIT students, and accelerate critical AM education initiatives for professional audiences. Taken together, these activities enable APT’s members to implement process, product, and business model innovation and to leverage AM in tandem with the rapidly changing digital manufacturing infrastructure that includes robotics, advanced materials, and computational intelligence.

APT Initiatives

Research
APT’s membership fees support research projects on visionary new AM technologies, breakthrough materials, computational methods, and more. Our research leverages the multidisciplinary strengths of APT’s faculty and students--spanning mechanical engineering, materials science, computer science, and business--and enables members to reach beyond the constraints of today’s AM infrastructure and work hand-in-hand with MIT.
Strategy
To complement its technical research, APT performs strategic analyses of the present and future capabilities of AM and of digitally-driven manufacturing systems. Broadly, we seek to identify the “scaling laws” of AM technologies and create insights that enable members to act decisively in this rapidly changing arena. These analyses include accurate, up-to-date cost models of AM, tools for value analysis, and a library of case studies derived from member interests. Key insights and detailed reports are shared with members far in advance of academic publication.
Learning
APT hosts a flagship Annual Research Symposium, which features cutting-edge developments within MIT and across the fields of digital and additive manufacturing, a members-only annual workshop, and an on-campus regular seminar series available to members by webcast. In addition, APT manages a portfolio of AM education initiatives including a week-long summer course at MIT, and MIT's Additive Manufacturing for Innovative Design and Production, a 12-week online certificate program that has trained nearly 2,000 professionals in its first six months.
Ecosystem
APT connects its members with the world's top talent from MIT, and enables MIT students to connect with industry leaders in their fields of interest and expertise. Moreover, the Boston area is a hive of manufacturing innovation, including fast-growing startups and world leaders in AM, robotics, design software, materials and automation. Our membership structure welcomes both small and large organizations, and therefore builds a one-of-a-kind ecosystem that accelerates the growth and adoption of AM for all.

APT Initiatives

Research
APT’s membership fees support research projects on visionary new AM technologies, breakthrough materials, computational methods, and more. Our research leverages the multidisciplinary strengths of APT’s faculty and students, and enables members to reach beyond the constraints of today’s AM technologies and work hand-in-hand with MIT. In addition, we perform both fundamental and applied research on topics that limit the capabilities of current AM technology, including material properties, process and quality control, and design approaches.
Strategy
To complement its technical research, APT performs strategic analyses of the present and future capabilities of AM and of digitally-driven manufacturing systems. Broadly, we seek to identify the “scaling laws” of AM technologies and create insights that enable members to act decisively in this rapidly changing arena. These analyses include accurate, up-to-date cost models of AM, tools for value analysis, and a library of case studies derived from member interests. Key insights and detailed reports are shared with members far in advance of academic publication.
Learning
APT hosts a flagship Annual Research Symposium, which features cutting-edge developments within MIT and across the fields of digital and additive manufacturing, a members-only annual workshop, and an on-campus regular seminar series available to members by webcast. In addition, APT manages a portfolio of AM education initiatives including a week-long summer course at MIT, and MIT's Additive Manufacturing for Innovative Design and Production, a 12-week online certificate program that has trained nearly 2,000 professionals in its first six months.
Ecosystem
APT connects its members with the world's top talent from MIT, and enables MIT students to connect with industry leaders in their fields of interest and expertise. Moreover, the Boston area is a hive of manufacturing innovation, including fast-growing startups and world leaders in AM, robotics, design software, materials and automation. Our membership structure welcomes both small and large organizations, and therefore builds a one-of-a-kind ecosystem that accelerates the growth and adoption of AM for all.

APT Faculty

APT's founding director is Prof. John Hart. Prof. Hart is a world-renowned researcher, educator, and entrepreneur in manufacturing. His research group focuses on the science and technology of advanced manufacturing, and investigates additive manufacturing, nanostructured materials, and the integration of computation and automation in next-generation production systems. Hart has also led several innovative hands-on and digital learning initiatives in manufacturing for MIT students, industry professionals, and global audiences.
Mechanical Engineering
Machines, materials and processes
Sloan School of Management & Mechanical Engineering
Systems and supply-chain management
Mechanical Engineering
Sustainable manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
Automation and controls
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Computational fabrication and artificial intelligence
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Human-machine interaction
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Process modeling and informatics
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Metallurgy and materials design
Mechanical Engineering
Nanophotonics and 3D nanomanufacturing
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computational design of materials

Members

Contact

APT's members are united by a drive to realize the next generation of manufacturing. To learn more about joining APT, please contact APT Director, Prof. John Hart or APT Program Manager, Haden Quinlan.