Page 8 - 3D Metal Printing Summer 2016

3D INDUSTRY NEWS
Norsk Titanium Adds Aviation and Defense-Industry Veterans
Norsk Titanium, New York, NY, a manufacturer of aerospace-grade titanium compo- nents using its rapid plasma deposition additive-manufacturing process, has appoint- ed three seasoned aviation and defense-industry executives to its commercial team, in response to robust aerospace demand. Steve Carrington joins the company as vice president, sales; Tony Prezioso as vice president, contracts; and Nicholas Mayer as vice president, product development.
“We have been inundated with titanium structural-part drawings and quotation requests from large aircraft OEM clients,” comments Chet Fuller, chief commercial officer. “In response, we are aggressively growing our commercial organization to extend supply contracts, drive new aerospace deals and ensure that we match our human resources to the escalating needs of our customers.”
Carrington previously served as vice president, business development, L-3 Commu- nications, and held executive and managerial positions for companies in the U.S. and international defense markets. Prezioso built his career at Bombardier Aerospace, most recently as director of contracts. Mayer previously held leadership positions with Northrop Grumman, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Lockheed Martin and Seabury Global Aero- space & Defense.
Höganäs Boosts Digital Metal Capacity
To meet the growing demand for 3D-printed components and additional material alternatives, Höganäs has invested in a new sintering furnace at its facility in Sweden. The investment enables an increased output of metal components using Höganäs’ proprietary Digital Metal technology.
“The new furnace significantly increases our production capacity and and allows us to sinter a wider range of metal powders,” says Ralf Carlström, the firm’s general man- ager for additive manufacturing.” The high-temperature furnace offers variable sinter- ing-atmosphere settings and precise adjustment of temperature profiles, crucial to the sintering of high-quality metal components.
Colorado School of Mines Program
to Focus on Printer and Parts Qualification
At the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), mechanical engineering assistant profes- sors Aaron Stebner and Douglas Van Bossuyt were awarded a $2.5 million Advanced Industries Accelerator grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to establish a 3D metal-printing research consortium. Included is the establishment of 2200 sq. ft. of dedicated laboratory space in the school’s new Coorstek Center for Applied Science and Engineering. Manufacturer’s Edge, Boulder, CO, a statewide manufacturing assistance center partially funded by the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), will facilitate a Colorado consor- tium between industry partners Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, Fauston Tool and CSM. The grant will support the consortium’s use of the new laboratory space to per- form applied research and to create the database infrastructure needed to qualify 3D printers and their parts in a timely, cost-effective manner.
CSM will perform research along with Faustson and additive-manufacturing machine provider Concept Laser on a dual-laser 3D metal printer. CSM also plans to
acquire the first U.S. university-owned X-ray diffraction microscope capable of diffraction contrast tomography and submicron-resolution computed tomog- raphy. The microscope will allow researchers to provide advanced microstructure characterization of 3D- printed metal parts.
Over a 12-month period, CSM will conduct two pilot research projects, printing nickel and titanium alloys.
Honeywell-Missouri S&T Research Tackles SLM AM Process
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, has partnered with Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, Kansas City, MO, to per- form material analysis related to selec- tive laser melting (SLM) in a metal-pow- der bed.
The 5-yr., $6.5-million project, using equipment purchased and installed at Missouri S&T by Honeywell, has four objectives: 1) predict properties of the built parts, 2) control microstructures to achieve desired properties, 3) maximize powder reuse and 4) increase product sustainability.
The project consists of five tasks: powder characterization, material prop- erty characterization methods, tempera- ture effects on material properties, con- trolling microstructure and mechanical properties, and chemistry specifically for additive manufacturing. Type 304L stain- less steel is the initial build material.
“We look at how process parameters affect the mechanical properties of the manufactured part and how to control those parameters to achieve desired properties,” says Missouri S&T’s Dr. Ming Leu, who is leading the study. “The laser’s power, the beam diameter, the traverse speed, the line spacing and the layer thickness all can affect the parts produced.”
6 | 3D METAL PRINTING • SUMMER 2016
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