MHMonash Hub

Units / MTE5887

MTE5887 · Additive manufacturing of polymeric and functional materials

Official Handbook

2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTC

Overview

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of polymeric materials is an important manufacturing platform for the fabrication of functional and customisable engineered products. This unit will provide an overview of existing additive manufacturing processes such as 'fused deposition modelling', 'stereolithography', 'polymer jetting' and 'powder bed fusion'. Each of these technologies relies on the appropriate selection of a polymer and the fundamentals of different classes of polymeric materials will be reviewed. Advantages and drawbacks of existing and emerging AM technologies will also be discussed. The unit will also investigate examples of the use of these technologies for the design and fabrication of functional polymeric parts. You will obtain practical skills in 3D printing of polymers, computer-aided design and processing of polymers for additive manufacturing.

Areas of study: E6011 Master of Professional Engineering - Specialisation: Materials engineering E6012 Master of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Engineering (Monash-SEU Double Masters) E6014 Master of Engineering - Specialisation: Materials engineering E6014 Master of Engineering - Specialisation: Smart manufacturing engineering E6017 Master of Advanced Engineering - Specialisation: Medical engineering E6017 Master of Advanced Engineering - Specialisation: Smart manufacturing engineering

Offerings

CampusTeaching periodMode
ClaytonFirst semesterTeaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS)
Suzhou (SEU)First semesterTeaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS)

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

#AssessmentTypeWeightHurdle
1AssignmentsProject50%Threshold
2Final assessmentExamination50%Threshold

Continuous assessment: 50% Final assessment: 50% This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

prohibitions

  • MTE6887 — Additive manufacturing of polymeric and functional materials

Learning outcomes

  1. Recognise and distinguish between the different classes of polymeric materials used for Additive Manufacturing.
  2. Select the adequate Additive Manufacturing process based on the functional requirements of the product.
  3. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of additive manufacturing technologies.
  4. Discuss in detail the factors that affect geometric properties such as minimum wall thickness, minimum feature size and/or minimum space between designed surface of 3D printed part.
  5. Choose appropriate strategy for the orientation of a 3D printed part on the build platform and the generation of the support structure in order to minimise postprocessing activities.
  6. Demonstrate practical skills in 3D printing of polymers.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

ActivityDuration
Practical activities24 hours
Workshops24 hours

Ask about MTE5887

Answered from the Handbook fields above — no AI, no guessing. Every answer links back to the source.

Community discussions about MTE5887

Community

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.

No discussions yet

Be the first to share what this unit was actually like.

Monash HubAn independent student platform

Monash Hub is an independent student information platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Monash University. Always confirm enrolment, graduation, visa and academic policy decisions through the Monash website, Handbook, Moodle or WES.