What if you could dream, design, and hold your product in just days?
With Additive Manufacturing (AM), better known as 3D printing, the possibilities are endless. From ultra-light aerospace parts to life-changing medical implants, from high-tech robotics to sustainable automotive solutions, AM is transforming the way we design, build, and innovate.

The possibilities go far beyond standard thermoplastics. For example, you’ll dive into the exciting world of:

Metal printing: Creating strong, high-precision components for industries such as aerospace, medical, and tooling. Think custom implants, turbine blades, or molds with complex cooling channels.

Large Scale Composite printing: Combining strength, size and speed for advanced applications in mobility, tooling, design and robotics. Imagine parts the size of a car being printed in just hours, fully produced from recycled materials.

With AM, the opportunities are truly limitless. In this minor, you’ll not just learn about them, you’ll experience them first-hand.

Brainport Industries Campus

The program is based at the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC), the largest AM ecosystem in the Netherlands. Here, education and industry work side by side to push the boundaries of this new production technique.

What you’ll learn

Unlock the potential of AM: Explore the capabilities and challenges of AM and learn how to effectively apply it in industry.

Hands-on experience: Work with industrial AM equipment, advanced software, and testing methods.

Design smarter products: Design functional parts in the fields of mechanics, heat transfer, and fluid flow, while making smart choices in materials and processes.

Learn from experts: Guest-lectures by industry-leading companies & Researchers in the field of AM.

Entry Requirements: Open to students with a technical background (e.g. Engineering, Applied Science, Industrial Design). To participate the student must have obtained the propedeutic exam (60ECTS) or obtained permission from the examination board of your program.

Recommended Skills: Basic knowledge of Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Minor program

The SPDAM minor combines theory, practice, and real-world projects into one learning experience worth 30 ECTS. You will follow five modules and work on one integrated project:

DFAM – Design For Additive Manufacturing (4 EC)

Learn how to design parts specifically for AM and discover where this technology adds real value.

PSAM – Practical Skills for Additive Manufacturing (4 EC)

Get hands-on in the lab with 3D printers: from scanning and slicing to production prep, post-processing, and testing.

PM11 – Production techniques & Materials science (4 EC)

Dive into the materials and processes of AM at both atomic and practical level and see how they differ from traditional techniques.

CM11 – Stress Analysis & Optimization (4 EC)

Use simulation tools to analyze and optimize printed parts and push your designs further with topology optimization.

EP11- Heat & Flow Analysis (4 EC)

Apply simulations to optimize heat transfer and fluid flow. For example, in heatsinks, molds, or advanced cooling systems.

IPDAM – Integrated Product Development (10 EC)

The heart of the minor: work in a multidisciplinary team on a real industry assignment. Together with a company and a tutor, you will analyze, design, build, and test a product where AM makes the difference. Along the way, you’ll develop your project management, research, and presentation skills.

Minor Regulation
Here you can find the minor regulation
The purpose of the minor regulation is to inform you about the subjects within the minor, how the testing is set up and when you have concluded the minor. Students can derive rights out of the text of the minor regulation.

When: Spring semester (Feb-Jul)

Credits: 30 EC (≈ 840 study hours across 20 weeks)

Institute: Fontys University of Applied Sciences, School of Engineering, De Rondom 1, 5612AP Eindhoven, 08850-77333.

Language: All study materials are in English. Lectures are in English if international students participate.