Page 16 - 3D Metal Printing Fall 2017

3D FEATURE
Educated AM Customers
Are the Best Customers
The staff at Concurrent
Technologies Corporation’s
young and growing
additive-manufacturing
(AM) operations focuses on
developing engineered
AM solutions for customers,
but only after teaching
them how to specify,
design and purchase 3D
metal-printed parts.
BY BRAD F. KUVIN, PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
In 2012, management at independent, nonprofit, applied-R&D organization Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), Johnstown, PA, made the strategic decision to add additive manufacturing (AM) to its list of services. The firm has a rich history in developing advanced met- alworking technology—CTC opened in 1987 as Metalworking Technology Inc. (MTI), to operate the U.S. Navy ManTech National Center for Excellence in Metal- working Technology (now called the Navy Metalworking Center). Staffed with experts in materials testing, heattreating, welding and other processes, the move to metal AM seemed logical to management.
“We believe that the ability of the hybrid machine,” explains Sabo, “will open many doors to new business in the repair arena, in particular of large parts.” The machine features a Haas VF11 multiaxis machining center with a 10-ft. bed and dual-powder-feed arrangement, outfitted with an Ambit multitasking system (from Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies) that allows a variety of processing heads to dock to the spindle. That includes, in this case, a cladding head (shown here in Sabo’s grasp) that combines a 1000-W fiber laser and a powder-feed setup.
14 | 3D METAL PRINTING • FALL 2017
3DMPmag.com
So notes CTC executive director William Altergott, who oversees the firm’s advanced engineering and manufacturing business unit, adding that CTC has built a solid team of AM specialists, joining its hundreds of engineers and scientists with expertise in design, rapid prototyping, joining, machining, etc. Leading the AM team is senior director of additive manu- facturing and materials Ken Sabo, who explains the process he used to quickly
get his department up and running.
“I read the ‘Wohlers Report’ cover to cover,” says Sabo, harking back to early 2013, “and I traveled the country to learn about the various processes and equip- ment offerings. In 2014 we purchased our first metal-AM machine, an SLM laser
powder-bed machine.”
Sabo and Altergott are quick to point
out, however, that their AM business unit’s priority from day one involved much more