The AFS is offering the short course “Metal Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Within the Filtration Industry.” The course will be taught virtually by Neil Burns, founder and co-director of Croft Filters Limited and Croft Additive Manufacturing Limited in Warrington, UK, on March 24, 9:00 – 11:00 am central time.

The course will give attendees a basic knowledge of additive manufacturing (AM), the process, and what is involved in the development of additive industrial parts. The course also will focus on Designing for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) and how it differs to conventional designing. Backed with case studies relating to the filtration industry, attendees will leave with a wider understanding of the potential benefits AM can deliver to the filtration marketplace.

The course is designed for professionals wanting detailed insight into the fundamentals of metal additive manufacturing in filtration, including potential users of AM, product designers and anyone else with an interest in learning more about the technology. The aim is to provide real knowledge backed with real experience.

Covered topics:

• Background to Additive Manufacturing in different materials

• A detailed outline of Selective Laser Melting (SLM)

• Designing for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)

• Surface finish and build orientation

• Post processing and finishing

• Inherent challenges of Additive Manufacturing

• Applied Additive Manufacturing within the filtration industry

The course will be presented live online on Thursday, March 24, from 9:00 to 11:00 am central. The fee is $245 for members and $295 for nonmembers. Register here.

About the Instructor

Neil Burns is a founder and co-director of Croft Filters Limited and Croft Additive Manufacturing Limited, Warrington, United Kingdom and has more than 30 years’ experience developing and delivering high quality filtration solutions to a range of industries in the UK and worldwide. His engineering experience began with wire mesh fabrication, and along with brother Mark Burns they formed Croft Engineering Services, originally mesh suppliers. Their engineering abilities took them along the natural progression path to filter manufacturing. Croft Filters has grown to 30 employees. As a Director, Neil and his fellow Directors are responsible for the overall management of the company, with each Director having responsibilities in specialized areas. In particular, Neil’s role is very diverse and covers all aspects of financial, product development, growth strategy, staff skills, and recruitment and marketing. Neil and fellow Directors recognized the potential of additive manufacturing, acquired a machine and created a spin off company, Croft Additive Manufacturing Ltd. He aims to introduce advances in processes employed in filter manufacture as well as creating improved filtration solutions of high quality. Improvements in filter outputs allow him to continually advance their environmental policy to reduce not only their own carbon footprint but that of their customers.

Neil gained his MBA from the University of Liverpool in 2012 and in 2019 graduated for his MSc by Research at Lancaster University. He continually expands his skills horizons by attending workshops and national and international conferences. Neil is a committee member of the American Filtration Society and a past president of the Filtration Society, UK. Neil is also a committee member of the ASTM Standards Board (USA) and the ISS Standards Board (UK).