Page 8 - 3D Metal Printing Spring 2016

3D INDUSTRY NEWS
Arcam Subsidiary AP&C Boosts Powder-Manufacturing Capacity
Arcam AB announced that its powder-manufacturing subsidiary AP&C, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, will build three new atomizing reactors, for a total of eight. The new capacity comes in reaction to a surge in demand for AP&Cs high-quality titanium pow- ders. With the build-out, AP&C will reach a capacity of at least 500 tons/yr.
“The need for high-end titanium powder is driven by the fast growth and adoption of additive manufacturing,” says Arcam CEO Magnus René.
Norsk Titanium, Premium Aerotec Undertake Joint Qualification Program
Norsk Titanium AS announced that its
first shipment of Airbus test parts, man-
ufactured by its Rapid Plasma Deposi-
tion (RPD) 3D metal-printing process,
has been received and finish-machined
by Premium Aerotec, with excellent
results. Premium Aerotec is an Airbus subsidiary in
Augsburg, Germany. The Titanium Ti-6Al-4V sample parts, for
which Premium Aerotec holds design authority, will undergo stringent engineering analysis. Results will be used for the qualification program in a joint approach between the two companies.
“This fast-track qualification program is a great example of the value proposition RPD brings to our commercial aerospace partners,” says Norsk Titanium chief com- mercial officer Chet Fuller. “We turned Aerotec’s 3D Catia files into flyable titanium parts in a matter of weeks under a cost-reduction effort that ultimately could save Airbus $2-3 million per aircraft.”
Five Predictions for Metal Additive Manufacturing
Count Toyota R&D Among New Customers
of SLM Solutions
SLM Solutions Group AG, a provider of metal-based additive-manufacturing technology, reported late in 2015 that it achieved revenue growth of 80 percent through the first nine months of the year. Part of that growth was attributed to nine orders for its SLM 500HL selective laser-melting system (500 by 280 by 325- mm build box) during the reporting peri- od. Sales also were up significantly year- over-year for other machine models.
New customers included Toyota Cen- tral R&D Labs, which ordered an SLM 280HL twin-laser machine (build speed of 20-45 cu. cm./hr., with a 280 by 280 by 350-mm build envelope).
Concept Laser Wins the 2016 International Additive Manufacturing Award
AMT–The Association For Manufac- turing Technology awarded Concept Laser GmbH the 2016 International Additive Manufacturing Award (IAMA), presented at the Inside 3D Printing con- ference as part of METAV 2016 in Düs- seldorf, Germany. The winning innova- tion involves the first in-situ real-time process-monitoring system for powder- bed-based additive manufacturing. It measures properties such as size and intensity of the melting path's thermal radiation in ultra-high resolution. It then displays the data in correlation to the position of the melting bath on the work- piece surface. This allows users to local- ize and evaluate process anomalies dur- ing production.
“Our innovation enables downstream test processes to be reduced to a mini- mum, which helps to save time and money,” says Frank Herzog, the compa- ny’s managing partner and founder.
SmarTech Markets Publishing, Char- lottesville, VA, offers the following pre- dictions for 3D metal printing:
• Leading additive-manufacturing players will refocus on those areas of 3D printing where growth continues to explode, including metal additive manu- facturing. Those already heavily involved in metal printing will continue on their growth paths in 2016, and those only partially involved or entirely uninvolved will set their sights on metals.
• As 3DMP grows in use for direct component manufacturing, the supply chain for qualified spherical metal pow- der may struggle to meet demand.
• R&D and indirect 3D metal printing will take off in the automotive segment.
The big question will be whether more attention will go to specialized 3DP serv- ices for the automotive industry, or whether automotive OEMs bring metal printers into their plants.
• In 2016, wire-based 3DMP technol- ogy will grow, almost entirely from aero- space-industry demand. While some competitiveness exists between wire- based and powder-based approaches, neither approach will limit expansion of the other.
• In 2014 and 2015, sales of large-for- mat metal systems grew substantially. In 2016, the market will shift toward small- er-footprint systems aimed not just at research applications, but also for true small-scale manufacturing.
6 | 3D METAL PRINTING • SPRING 2016
3DMPmag.com