Hexagon and Raytheon Technologies collaborate on simulation tool to improve AM
November 2, 2022
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, headquartered in Cobham, Surrey, UK, and Raytheon Technologies’ Pratt and Whitney business, have partnered to deliver a simulation tool that is intended to enable the evaluation and optimisation of metal Additive Manufacturing processes through the prediction of thermal history and defects at the laser path and powder layer scale.
The new software will reportedly predict defects before the AM process begins, helping designers and engineers evaluate the build outcome and test combinations of materials, geometries, and AM processes.
“We have partnered with Raytheon Technologies to deliver an intuitive and accessible tool that will help engineers quickly predict and mitigate risks,” stated Jeff Robertson, Hexagon’s director of global business development. “The ability to evaluate full laser powder bed fusion [PBF-LB] parts on the meso-scale will reduce the effort to achieve part certification and thereby support industrialisation of metal 3D printing.”
The software will be made available to a range of companies engaged in Additive Manufacturing and will complement Hexagon’s existing Simufact Additive tool. The similarity to the existing user interface is expected to allow easy integration into existing manufacturing processes by users without the need for extensive training.
David Furrer, Pratt & Whitney senior fellow for materials and processes, commented, “By combining our Additive Manufacturing expertise with Hexagon’s, we are bringing a solution to market that helps manufacturers with all levels of experience make better products with greater efficiency.”
