Within the programme of the well-received Euro PM2020 Virtual Congress, held October 5–7, 2020, and organised by the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA), a technical session was held on process control in metal Binder Jetting. In this article, Dr David Whittaker provides a summary of two of the papers presented, which look at applying the Master Sintering Curve for 316L parts, and process parameter optimisation for 17-4 PH parts. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 7 No. 1, Spring 2021]
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There is growing interest in the use of metal Additive Manufacturing for the production of jewellery and luxury watch components. This interest is driven not only by the potential design innovation offered by Additive Manufacturing, but also by the recognition of the environmental and economic advantages to be gained from it. In this in-depth report, Jochen Heinrich, Thomas Laag and Thierry Copponnex review the processing of platinum group metals by Additive Manufacturing. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 7 No. 1, Spring 2021]
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In the early days of metal Additive Manufacturing process development, automation was off the radar of machine manufacturers. Technologies created for rapid prototyping simply had no need for it and, until the last decade, few truly anticipated the pace at which Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion and Binder Jetting have evolved in the race towards the series production of metal parts. In this article, Joseph Kowen reports on how the industry has addressed the challenges of automation so far, and what developments we can expect in the near future. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 4, Winter 2020]
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In conventional subtractive manufacturing process chains, components move efficiently throughout a production chain using pallets and standard referencing and clamping systems, enabling parts to be automatically processed by a variety of technologies as they move through a facility. GF Machining Solutions’ System 3R division has leveraged its expertise in this area to create a tooling solution tailored to Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) production. As Dogan Basic, Product Manager AM, explains, this optimises workflow, increasing the potential for AM automation and, as a result, for successful series production. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 4, Winter 2020]
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As industry marches toward automation, networked communication and robotics, Additive Manufacturing has a unique advantage. No other production technology has been designed, from its inception, to enable connectivity and communication; AM machines around the world are already producing more build data than any other manufacturing technology. If used properly, this data will provide the foundation for the development of Machine Learning tools that can improve and industrialise the AM process at nearly every point in the workflow. In this article, Chelsea Cummings and John Barnes, from The Barnes Global Advisors, discuss the present and future of Machine Learning in AM. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 4, Winter 2020]
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Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is widely applied to solve a broad range of research and engineering problems, from aerodynamics to engine combustion and microfluidics. In this article, Pareekshith Allu, Senior CFD Engineer at Flow Science, Inc, explains how CFD can also be used to improve laser- and non-laser-based metal Additive Manufacturing processes, including Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB), Directed Energy Deposition (DED), Binder Jetting (BJT) and Material Extrusion (MEX). [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 4, Winter 2020]
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For a country with a total population significantly smaller than that of cities such as London or New York, New Zealand is ‘punching above its weight’ when it comes to developing expertise in Additive Manufacturing and educating design engineers in how to use it. Olaf Diegel, a professor at New Zealand’s University of Auckland and associate consultant at Wohlers Associates, and Terry Wohlers, president of Wohlers Associates, report on AM activities and highlight a novel range of successful commercial applications. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 3, Autumn/Fall 2020]
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Hardmetals, also known as cemented carbides, have played a huge and often overlooked role in modern industrial development. From the first application in wire drawing dies in the 1920s, hardmetals are today universal and their application areas range from metal cutting and the machining of wood, plastics and composites to the production of glass bottles, aluminium cans and the ubiquitous ball-point pen tip. Can Additive Manufacturing make inroads into a market worth tens of billions of Euros in annual sales? Dr.-Ing. Johannes Pötschke reviews the fundamentals of hardmetal production and considers the most viable AM processes for this complex family of materials. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 3, Autumn/Fall 2020]
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Nickel-base superalloys are an important material group for components used in the gas turbine, aerospace and chemical processing industries. Many of the well-established superalloys available today do not, however, adapt well to processing by Additive Manufacturing. In this article, Dr Tatiana Hentrich and Dr Christina Schmidt, VDM Metals International GmbH, present an overview of nickel-base alloys with a focus on strengthening effects, mechanical properties and weldability, comparing production challenges by conventional production routes and Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 3, Autumn/Fall 2020]
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When you mix a childhood obsession with rockets and space travel, a career at some of the biggest global names in aerospace, and a curiosity about hobbyist 3D printing developed through maker fairs, it was inevitable that FormAlloy’s Melanie Lang would end up in the world of metal Additive Manufacturing. Metal AM magazine’s Emily-Jo Hopson-VandenBos interviewed Lang, CEO and co-founder of Directed Energy Deposition (DED) specialist FormAlloy, about her route into AM, her company’s technology and the outlook for the process. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 3, Autumn/Fall 2020]
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Whilst Additive Manufacturing is undoubtedly having a huge impact on the design and manufacture of rocket propulsion systems, most notably combustion chambers and nozzles, the Achilles’ heel of most AM processes is as-built surface finish. Whilst in many AM applications surface finish may be largely irrelevant to a component’s function or performance, when it comes to high-cycle fatigue properties, achieving the required level of smoothness is critical to performance. In this article, Justin Michaud, REM Surface Engineering, reports on advancements achieved in this area through a public-private partnership with NASA. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 3, Autumn/Fall 2020]
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A new wave of AM machine manufacturers focused on Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-EB) is looking to capitalise on what is perceived as a process with significant untapped market potential. One of the most prominent of these newcomers is Freemelt AB, a developer of open source machines designed to help broaden the PBF-EB material portfolio and application areas. As Metal AM magazine’s Emily-Jo Hopson-VandenBos reports, co-founders Ulric Ljungblad and Ulf Ackelid have no doubt as to the opportunities ahead. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 2, Summer 2020]
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In January, Boeing’s new 777X aircraft made its maiden flight, powered by two GE9X engines from GE Aviation. Whilst this was a major moment for both companies, it was also a huge milestone for Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-EB), and the culmination of decades of process and material development work at the driving force behind the technology, Arcam AB. Whilst the many turbine blades used in the GE9X engine are the highlight of the first chapter in the story of PBF-EB, there is also a lingering sense of unrealised potential. Here, Joseph Kowen considers the story to date and highlights a new generation of firms working to increase the technology’s adoption. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 2, Summer 2020]
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Able to achieve quicker build speeds and lower cost per part than its rival technologies, metal Binder Jetting (BJT) has generated increasing interest and rapid industry investment over the past two years. But while many engineers are now becoming familiar with the principles of design for Powder Bed Fusion AM, design for BJT is less widely understood. In this article, Olaf Diegel and Terry Wohlers attempt to demystify some of the key factors that must be considered when designing parts for BJT. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 2, Summer 2020]
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As the metal Additive Manufacturing industry matures at a rapid rate, organisations are now faced with the challenge of scaling their AM operations. Based on a study of 253 companies in a number of sectors, US-based AM software specialist Link3D has developed an ‘Additive Manufacturing Maturity Model’. This simple model can be used as a tool to understand an organisation’s AM maturity whilst also helping them navigate the steps to developing an agile and resilient AM supply chain. Shane Fox, CEO and co-founder of Link3D, explains. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 2, Summer 2020]
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Just as Design for AM demands an entirely new mindset to be truly effective, understanding efficient AM machine utilisation in order to drive profitability also requires a major shift from conventional practices. In this article, Magnitude Innovations Inc’s Matt Tusz, Founder and CEO, and Caterina Pampolari, Business Development Manager, explore operational and financial losses in metal Additive Manufacturing. They offer advice on how to overcome these growth barriers through production efficiency and profitable pricing strategies, with a focus on Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 2, Summer 2020]
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Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) is a technology rich in process parameters and exacting material specifications, all developed with the aim of delivery quality and repeatability as the industry moves towards volume production. However, without control of a laser’s focal spot, neither the material specification nor the handling of the material in the build chamber can guarantee the hoped-for results. As Ophir Spiricon Europe’s Christian Dini explains, when it comes to lasers, there is no control without the gathering of reliable data. [First published in Metal AM Vol. 6 No. 2, Summer 2020]
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During the Euro PM2019 Congress and Exhibition in Maastricht, the Netherlands, this October, a number of Special Interest Seminars were held focusing on various aspects of the Powder Metallurgy and Additive Manufacturing industries. In one seminar, Dr Uemit Aydin, GKN Additive, and Nicholas Turner, Materials Solutions, looked to the future of Additive Manufacturing and expressed their views on its industrialisation. David Whittaker attended the SIS on behalf of Metal AM magazine and reports on its conclusions.[First published in Metal AM Vol. 5 No. 4, Winter 2019]
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On July 4, 2019, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) sponsored and co-organised a one-day symposium in Melbourne entitled ‘Towards a True Digital Twin’. The event, which followed APICAM 2019, the 2nd Asia-Pacific International Conference on Additive Manufacturing, brought together experts in a range of relevant fields including metal Additive Manufacturing, computational modelling, multi-scale techniques, structure-property relations, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and digital twins of industrial processes. Here, CSIRO Manufacturing’s Dr Dayalan Gunasegaram and Dr Tony Murphy consider the importance of the digital twin in AM and report on some of the event’s key findings.
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At the 2019 Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) Conference in Chicago, Illinois, a panel was held to discuss requirements for Additive Manufacturing systems. Despite the late hour of the panel and depth in the week at which it was held, a formidable crowd organised themselves to hear Ryan Dehoff of ORNL, Filip Francqui of Granutools and John Barnes of The Barnes Group Advisors discuss the topic of powder in AM. In this article, the panellists explore in more detail the differences in powder requirements between AM systems.
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