GE Additive Arcam EBM launches development material support for pure copper and highly alloyed tool steel

News
November 19, 2019

November 19, 2019

 

GE Additive Arcam has announced general release of development material (D-material) support for pure copper and highly-alloyed tool steel during 2020. Offered to all customers as a general release on both pure copper and tool steel, a D-material is said to describe the maturity of process parameters for a specific material or family of materials. D-materials meet mechanical requirements for test bars on a limited build envelope to relevant industrial standards.

Obtaining the same properties for complex geometries requires additional development, the company stated, resulting in an industrialised material (I-material) – with process parameters optimised for production on specific customer applications with mechanical and chemical properties.

It was added that the GE Additive AddWorks team would be available to provide guidance and support on the right process parameters for their applications, and with mechanical and chemical requirements for both materials. It was also added that some customers will manage customisation in-house themselves.  

“This general release of D-material support for pure copper and tool steel is an exciting development and opens up EBM to wider range of industries and applications. We have opted to take an open, collaborative approach and will review feedback from customer using the D-material, and gauge their long-term interest, before considering how we approach industrializing the materials,” stated Karl Lindblom, general manager, Arcam EBM.

GE stated that EBM is the only commercially available technology for Additive Manufacturing of crack prone alloys. Higher levels of carbon in the steel mix increase the material’s propensity to crack during production with large temperature gradients. This, they state, makes high carbon level steels unsuitable for Additive manufacturing process with cold ambient temperatures such as laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF).

Copper’s ability to absorb energy varies with the wavelength of the energy source. Pure copper absorbs 80% of the energy from an electron beam, compared to only 2% of the energy from a red laser beam. This provides EBM with an advantage in terms of the ability to melt and ultimately productivity gains.

The ability to produce unique, complex geometries in pure copper without compromising the high electrical, or thermal conductivity is ideally suited to a range of sectors, including the automotive industry, or customers looking at applications for electrical connectors, induction coils and heat exchangers.

www.ge.com/additive

News
November 19, 2019

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Kennametal: The story of the successful commercialisation of AM hardmetal and steel solutions
  • General Atomics Aeronautical on metal Additive Manufacturing’s place at the centre of the digital manufacturing revolution
  • Adrian Keppler on Additive Manufacturing: An insider’s assessment from the outside
  • Metal AM’s journey to industrialisation: Are we there yet? And what does the destination even look like?
  • A stronger future, layer by layer: How next-generation software will drive adoption of metal AM
  • Volkmann: Making the case for the complete automation of powder handling in AM
  • Metal AM on an industrial scale: GKN Additive draws on decades of sintering expertise to commercialise Binder Jetting
  • International Conference on Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing: Highlights from EBAM 2023

The world of metal AM to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Looking for AM machines, metal powders or part manufacturing services?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our comprehensive advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of Metal AM magazine.

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data
View online
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap