INSIDE METAL AM
Flanders is one of the frontrunners in the field of Metal Additive 3D printing, but in order to achieve a large-scale breakthrough and lead companies to an industry of the future in Flanders (Industry 4.0), a number of barriers still need to be removed around material suitability and availability, insufficient and inconsistent material and product properties and production speed.
The focus of the project was on the material side of additive printing with (high strength) steel and stainless steel. Powder bed (SLM), laser metal deposition (LMD) and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) will be treated in the project. Throughout the entire project the link was made to existing knowledge and the comparison with conventional production technologies for the input materials, the process, as well as the properties of the end component.
Objectives
Allowing companies to make a faster and successful transition to the new production technology:
- Raising awareness of and information about the impact of material selection, process parameters, (thermal) post-treatment on the (micro-) structure and properties.
- Define guidelines for producing 3D printed pieces from ferro-alloys with good and consistent mechanical properties.
- Guidelines on certification and quality criteria for raw materials, processes and end products.
- Evaluate performance and cost of the 3D printed piece compared to conventional production techniques.
- Draw up a flowchart for the companies to identify the (im)possibilities of AM for their application and to orient them in their choice of material, process and aftertreatment for the production and use of parts with good and consistent properties.
More info on the project can be found on this webpage.
This project is part of:
