Additive manufacturing? Önerler.
We are now transferring our knowledge and experience in tool steels and heat treatment to metal additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing, which is a manufacturing method that has gained importance all over the world in recent years, has gained importance in the automotive, agriculture, aviation, defense and machinery industries in our country and its use is increasing day by day.
“Metal additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, offers the ability to produce complex parts without the design constraints of traditional manufacturing routes.”
What is additive manufacturing (3D printing)?
Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, is a technology that produces three-dimensional parts layer by layer from a material, whether polymer or metal-based. The method relies on a digital data file transmitted to a machine that created the component.
Components that were not possible just a few years ago can now be manufactured to high standards using a wide variety of metal powders. No longer just a prototyping technology, additive manufacturing can be used to manufacture serial components for the most demanding applications.
When should additive manufacturing really be made?
Is your design complex?
Some complex designs can be very difficult to machine with conventional technologies, even using 5-axis CNC machines.
Another advantage here is the low complexity cost. Producing complex mechanical parts through traditional manufacturing requires precision and skill, especially for assembling complex parts, which means that the price goes up with complexity. This is not the case with 3D printing, which creates an entire part in a single operation instead of building each component before assembly. Therefore, there is no additional cost for complexity.
Need urgent prototypes?
Metal 3D printing is much more advantageous if the number of parts required is less, for example 1 to 5 or for prototyping. Since the cost is almost the same for each added unit, it is possible to make the required amount of changes on the part. You use 3D printing to build a prototype and update the prototype until the required specifications are met. This is a very important step before putting the product into mass production. It can also be used for the remainder of the manufacturing process to create complex parts that may be better suited to your needs.
It may also be faster to produce with metal 3D printing rather than CNC machined parts. CNC machining normally requires more time to stock up on materials, set up the machine and get the right tooling. As a result, it may take several weeks to have the first piece in hand. The combination of reduced lead time and a more efficient prototyping process reduces overall throughput. This is one of the biggest advantages of metal 3D printing.
Do you want lightweight and durable components?
The aerospace and medical industries need very light yet durable parts. Superalloys such as Inconel 718, AlSi10Mg, Cobalt-chromium are known to be light compared to their conventionally machined counterparts. Manufacturing a part with these alloys naturally makes them relatively light.
Do you want to reduce material consumption?
3D printing is incredibly efficient in terms of material consumed, as the only material consumed is material that goes under the laser (or extruder, etc.), whereas conventional CNC machining leaves chips and small metal parts that need to be recycled.