KIMM develops magnetic Additive Manufacturing technology for high-performance motors
December 5, 2024
Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM), Changwon City, South Korea, has announced the development of magnetic Additive Manufacturing technology capable of producing high-performance motors. The technology enables the creation of complex motor structures, without the need for molds.
The technology has been applied to create axial flux motors, which are particularly suited for applications that demand high torque and output in confined spaces, such as robotics, Electric Vehicles (EVs), and mobility solutions. Consequently, a 500W-class additively manufactured motor has been successfully developed, achieving an output density that exceeds 2.0 kW/L.
A team led by Dr Taeho Ha at the Department of 3D Printing, Research Institute of Autonomous Manufacturing, collaborated with Dr Taehun Kim’s team from the Korea Institute of Materials Science and Professor Wonho Kim’s team from Gachon University. Together, they developed a technological solution covering design, materials, processes, and equipment for magnetic material Additive Manufacturing, enabling the creation of high-performance motors capable of delivering higher output at the same size.
Traditional motors, manufactured using electrical steel lamination or powder forming, rely heavily on molds and suffer from significant design constraints. This has limited their performance potential, driven up costs due to mold production and material waste, and created environmental issues, highlighting the need for technological innovation.
The magnetic Additive Manufacturing technology developed by KIMM is intended to address existing challenges in applications that require high-performance motors. With the increasing demand for these motors across multiple industries, the application of Additive Manufacturing can be leveraged to enhance component performance significantly compared to conventional parts. Furthermore, by simplifying molds, processes, and equipment, this technology can help reduce costs, facilitating a shift towards small-batch, multi-variety production.
Dr Taeho Ha remarked, “This magnetic 3D printing technology represents an innovative leap beyond traditional manufacturing methods, unlocking new possibilities for next-generation high-performance motors. Moving forward, we plan to expand into advanced industrial fields by integrating this with 3D printing technologies for high-functional materials.”
This research was supported by KIMM’s Basic Research Program for the development of Additive Manufacturing equipment for next-generation high-performance motors and the Nano & Materials Technology Development Program by the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Download Metal AM magazine
