Page 12 - 3D Metal Printing Fall 2018
P. 12

  3D TECH UPDATE
Binder-Jet Metal Printer Geared Toward Higher Volumes
HP Inc. used the IMTS stage to debut its HP Metal Jet 3D-printing technology, designed to enable high- volume manufacturing of production-grade metal parts. Initially, Metal Jet printers will produce stainless- steel finished parts, delivering isotropic properties upon post-print sintering that meet or exceed ASTM and MPIF Standards.
Offering a build size of 16.9 by 12.6 by 7.9 in., the
binder-jet Metal Jet printer boasts voxel-level 1200 by
1200-dpi 3D-printing accuracy, producing in single lay-
ers from 50 to 100 microns thick. Inkjets deliver an HP
binding agent to a powder-metal bed and industry-
standard metal-injection-molding (MIM) metal pow-
ders. The inkjets spray in a layer via a print head travel-
ing side to side, with another print head alternately
traveling in a perpendicular direction and spraying the next layer. This enables speeds that company officials claim are 50 times greater than other presently available binder-jet- ting and selective-laser-melting metal-AM machines. Density after sintering is greater than 93 percent, similar to densities achieved via MIM.
The printer reportedly can produce multiple parts simultaneously, and parts can be arranged freely in multiple levels within the bed to optimize packing density, productivity and cost. And, no build plate is required.
Company officials attribute speed, density and accuracy in part to inkjet-nozzle redun- dancy. The Metal Jet reportedly features four times the number of nozzles and two times the number of print bars as presently available systems.
At IMTS, representatives from GKN Powder Metallurgy and Parmatech discussed how they have employed the technology to produce parts for Volkswagen (pictured), Wilo and others.
HP plans to ship printers industry-wide by 2020. And, in 2019, the company will unveil its Metal Jet Production Service, where users can upload design files, receive design- compatibility checks from HP and receive parts from HP’s manufacturing partners.
HP Inc.: www8.hp.com/us/en/printers/3d-printers/metals.html
Eased Design and Optimization via SolidWorks Add-On
     3D Systems has introduced 3DXpert for SolidWorks CAD software, which combines 3D Systems’ 3DXpert with Dassault Systèmes’ SolidWorks. The new introduction offers users these capabilities:
• Maintain design integrity by working with native CAD solids without converting them into STL, or toggling between several software programs to accomplish all tasks.
• Optimize structures with rapid creation of lattice-based structures for light-weighting and applying surface textures.
• Ensure quality printed parts by using real-time analysis for best-fit positioning and orientation of the part. Use of automat- ed analysis and setting of support structures helps designers ensure surface quality and prevents part distortion.
• Accelerate preparation time by employing automatic fea- tures such as tray setup, and estimation of material usage and
build time.
“We are excited to partner with Dassault Systèmes and help
customers experience the reality of 3D printing through 3DXpert for SolidWorks,” says Vyomesh Joshi, president and chief executive officer, 3D Systems. “This collaboration enables SolidWorks users to create more shapes, more ways, and accel- erate product development cycles while lowering costs. We are offering designers a true competitive advantage while redefin- ing the design and manufacturing process.”
“Available with all Solidworks 3D CAD subscriptions, 3DXpert for SolidWorks allows designers to optimize their design for additive manufacturing, check for manufacturability without wasting time and material, and attain a competitive advantage in the market,” says Gian Paolo Bassi, CEO, Solid- Works, Dassault Systèmes.
10 | 3D METAL PRINTING • FALL 2018
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