Sustainability has risen to the top of the global manufacturing agenda. Whilst metal AM has long been considered a green technology because of its net-shape capabilities, it is far from being a process absent of environmental impact. Here, Martin McMahon explores how global efforts are being made to improve this through the use of more sustainable metal powders, combined with a greater focus on powder reuse and recycling. Inextricably linked to this are, of course, economic gains and, in terms of supply chain, national security benefits.
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The growing use of titanium Additive Manufacturing for the production of medical implants is a major success story for the industry. With this growth, however, come vast volumes of process data which need to be monitored to ensure compliance with tight regulatory requirements. Here, Peter Lindecke, amsight GmbH, explains how holistic analysis software can be used to monitor the impact of powder reuse strategies in Electron Beam Powder Fusion to ensure the best possible outcomes.
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Additive Manufacturing conferences rarely attract as many industry CEOs as New York’s Additive Manufacturing Strategies event, let alone persuade them to share the stage for panel discussions. AMS2024 was no exception. On the back of a turbulent financial year for many of the industry’s leading companies, how do those very CEOs see the state of the industry now, and what do they see as the biggest challenges ahead? Rachael Dalton-Taggart reports for Metal AM magazine.
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UK-based Wayland Additive is convinced that, when it comes to metal Additive Manufacturing, Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-EB) has a bright future ahead. Whilst laser-based PBF is the most widely commercialised AM technology, it has inherent limitations that electron beam-based innovations such as Wayland’s NeuBeam process promise to overcome. Rachel Park reports on how the technology could open up the AM market by enabling users of the Calibur3 machine to rapidly develop and commercialise a wider range of industrial materials.
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Across the world, a new wave of aerospace engineers are designing and building the next generation of aero engines and systems around the revolutionary capabilities of Additive Manufacturing. Twenty years ago this was a vision, but today it is a reality. From fuel nozzles to Stage 5 and Stage 6 low pressure turbine (LPT) blades, housings to structural elements, in this article Metal AM magazine’s Technical Consultant Martin McMahon reviews the progress that has been made, shining a light on selected applications that offer insight to those in the aerospace industry who want to get up to speed with progress.
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Metal AM offers the jewellery industry significant creative and commercial opportunities. One such opportunity is the production of platinum and titanium jewellery by Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB), a process described as a “match made in heaven” for these metals. This technology offers jewellery designers advantages that include greater creative freedom, the precise control of weight, and a path to scale-up production. Here, Michela Ferraro explores the status of AM for jewellery manufacturers and highlights innovative and critically acclaimed pieces produced by the technology.
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When it comes to presenting a review of the world’s largest international exhibition for AM, one can go about it in two ways: very broad generalisations about the state of the industry or a more focused review of a handful of noteworthy developments. Given the 859 exhibitors at Formnext 2023, spread over some 54,000 m2, this review by Dr Martin McMahon takes the latter approach, offering broader context where possible. Whilst many more press announcements are covered in the industry news section of this issue, the following report provides an overview of how – and where – AM is evolving and maturing into a credible and dynamic technology.
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While the Norwegian market for Additive Manufacturing has long revolved around prototyping and polymer materials, metal Additive Manufacturing has seen rapid development in recent years. This is in large part thanks to the opportunities that the country’s oil and gas industry is now seeing in the technology. In this article, Joppe N Christensen considers why it has taken so long to get started with metal AM in Norway and introduces companies and individuals who are now leading the way.
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Metal Additive Manufacturing is on a long journey, from the early technology concepts of several decades ago to its current usage in a relatively small number of markets with specific, highly-specialised application requirements. If the journey leads to the widespread adoption of metal AM technology by industry, can we ask, ‘Are we there yet?’ Dr Maximilian Munsch, Dr Eric Wycisk, and Matthias Schmidt-Lehr, from strategy consultancy and AM market analysis specialist AMPOWER, delve into the evolution, current status, and future prospects for the industry, seeking to uncover the true extent of its potential.
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Dr Adrian Keppler has been an active participant in the AM industry for close on fifteen years. Based on his past experience as the Managing Director, and later CEO, of EOS GmbH, and his current role on the advisory boards of numerous AM startups, Keppler believes that more can, and should, be done to advance industrial applications of AM. Are the industry’s efforts to develop new technologies without perfecting and industrialising existing technologies holding it back? Should the less exciting work of industrialisation be prioritised over the next shiny technology release? Joseph Kowen interviews Keppler for Metal AM magazine.
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is the world leader in the design and manufacture of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The company is no stranger to AM, with its Additive Design and Manufacturing Center of Excellence being integral to the qualification of more than 300 AM flight components and the installation of more than 10,000 AM parts on its aircraft. Now, it is working to identify and partner with some of the most innovative players in the industry in order to further leverage the capabilities of the technology. Divergent Technologies, the company behind Czinger Vehicles, is one such company. Jeff Kerns reports for Metal AM magazine.
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A decade ago, the majority of commercial metal Additive Manufacturing machine, materials and application developments took place in Europe and North America. Today, the picture is very different and China in particular has become a leading global player. Clear national strategies, combined with a strong drive to leverage commercial opportunities, have resulted in a powerful and dynamic metal AM industry that is moving rapidly towards self-sufficiency. In this article, Xuesong Pan (Peter), co-founder of China’s 3D printing media company Nanjixiong, reports on recent developments.
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