Page 12 - 3D Metal Printing Spring 2016

3D Tech Update
high as 120 C, the resulting humidity accelerated corrosion. For a better insert solution, Innomia designers developed a
3D-printed tool insert with integrated cooling channels measur- ing just 3-mm dia. The EOS machine deposits layers of marag- ing steel powder corresponding to 3D data, enabling the firm to manufacture a durable component, while at the same time, thanks to the cooling channels, provide quick and even heat dissipation. Also, a water temperature of 60 C is sufficient for cooling, reducing energy consumption. The insert surface remains below 90 C, resolving the humidity problem.
Last but not least, Magna’s production cycle has been reduced by 17 percent. Says Pavel Strnadek, head of tool
maintenance at Magna:
“The issue of cooling was something that we’ve been trying
to deal with for a long time. We knew how an improved prod- uct would have to look, but manufacturing it just wasn’t possi- ble. Additive manufacturing allowed us to make the break- through. We were able to plan the cooling channels just as we wanted them and then manufacture the mold core correspond- ingly. The laser fuses the metallic powder layer by layer, so that in effect any shape is possible. The result has convinced us at every level—maintenance, quality of the end product, costs,
3D Systems Launches ProX DMP 320 for Precision, High-Throughput Direct Metal Printing
heat dissipation—that
www.innomia.cz
it’s been the perfect project.”
centralized maintenance management, reduced argon-gas consumption and serial manufacturing workflow support.
3rd Dimension, an additive manufac- turer in Indianapolis, IN, served as a beta site for the new machine. Says CEO Bob Markley:
“We have been using the ProX DMP 320 to make titanium parts and are impressed by the high throughput, ease of use, consistency of output and overall part quality. Combined with our existing 3D Systems’ ProX 200 and ProX 300 machines, we can provide our customers with the optimal part from the optimal metal alloy, to meet the demands of every application.” www.3dsystems.com
3D Systems, Rock Hill, SC, introduced the ProX DMP 320 direct metal 3D printer, optimized for critical applications requir- ing complex, chemically pure titanium, stainless-steel or nickel superalloy parts. With exchangeable manufacturing mod- ules, the ProX DMP 320 supports rapid material change or replenishment, the company says, allowing manufacturers to keep pace with demanding production cycles and enabling efficient powder recy- cling. The printer also features preset build parameters developed from the out- come of hundreds of thousands of builds, providing predictable and repeatable print quality for virtually any geometry.
The ProX DMP 320 offers a 275 by 275 by 420-mm build volume, and
comes in two configurations, one opti- mized for titanium and one for stainless- steel and nickel superalloys. Included is
Bulk-To-Shape Technology a Quick Path to Printing Quality Metal Parts
Fonon Corp., Lake Mary, FL, has unveiled its bulk-to-shape technology, an umbrella of 3D-printing technologies the firm says represents a “transformational approach to industrial, application-specific metal additive manufacturing.” The new technology enables manufacturers to reliably integrate 3D metal printing into full production environments, and demon- strates a potentially disruptive shift in industrial manufacturing.
While first-generation 3D metal printing has transformed the prototyping process by shrinking cycle times and reducing development costs, Fonon representatives say that the new bulk-to-shape technology provides a cost-effective method for developing application-specific 3D metal-printing tools. The technology combines proprietary processes with an under-
standing of the molecular behavior of materials under transi- tional temperatures, and intellectual property related to devel- oping metal laser-sintering equipment. The result is the ability to bridge the gap between prototyping and full production.
“Medical, aviation, automotive and space-industry metal-print- ing experts use a measurement system called manufacturing- readiness level (MRL) to classify additive-manufacturing machines,” says Fonon vice president Louis Schlegel. “While an MRL of 10 represents machines ready for production, currently available systems have been classified with an MRL of 4 to 6.
We believe that bulk-to-shape technology is the quickest path to achieving an MRL of 10.”
www.fonon.us
10 | 3D METAL PRINTING • SPRING 2016
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