Page 20 - 3D Metal Printing Summer 2019

3D RAPID + TCT
This provides companies with documen- tation and transparency that make it easier for them to compare direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) 3D printing with tradi- tional manufacturing and other 3D print- ing technologies, according to EOS offi- cials, who note that such data and openness are requirements for the use of AM in series production.
EOS StainlessSteel CX, a new tooling- grade steel developed for production with the EOS M 290 machine, combines cor- rosion resistance with high strength and hardness. Components made from this material reportedly are simple to machine and provide an excellent polished finish.
EOS Aluminum AlF357, ideal for appli- cations requiring a light metal with mechanical/thermal strength, deliver components characterized by light weight, corrosion resistance and high dynamic loading. This material has been developed for production with the EOS M 400, but EOS plans to make it available for the EOS M 290 system in the near future.
EOS Titanium Ti64 Grade 5, specially developed for its high fatigue strength without hot isostatic pressing (HIP), is suitable for production with the EOS M 290. The material also offers excellent cor- rosion resistance, making it ideal for aero- space and automotive applications, according to company officials.
EOS Titanium Ti64 Grade 23 also was developed for its high fatigue strength without HIP and for production with the EOS M 290. Compared to Ti64, this mate- rial reportedly offers improved elonga- tion and fracture toughness with slightly lower strength, making it well-suited to
medical applications.
EOS classifies the technological matu-
rity of all its polymers, metals and process- es in the form of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). The TRL concept, developed by NASA, is established in numerous industries. For simplified orientation, the company divides its materials and process- es into two categories: TRL 3-6 refer to core products, while TRL 7-9 denote pre- mium products and address the usage for series applications. The new materials belong to the following categories:
• EOS StainlessSteel CX—TRL 8
• EOS Aluminium AlF357—TRL 7
• EOS Titanium Ti64 Grade 5—TRL 7
• EOS Titanium Ti64 Grade 23—TRL 7. The company also showcased its devel-
opment of shape-memory materials for aerospace and medical applications, including a nickel-titanium alloy (pictured). www.eos.info/en
Robotic Integration for AM, Plus Bulk Alloy Development
A developer and provider of directed energy deposition systems and related prod- ucts, Formalloy used the show to demon- strate robotic integration for metal AM.
Its X series boasts improved quality, better powder efficiency, and the ability to print with the most comprehensive list of metal alloys on the market, according to company officials. Each series machine includes the Formalloy AX metal deposi- tion head and a customizable build vol- ume with as many as five axes of motion. The Formalloy AX head reportedly has proven reliable for as much as 8 kW of laser power and includes built-in quick- release features that allow for rapid main- tenance and component swaps in less than 3 min. As an alternative to purchas- ing a turnkey metal deposition system, a robot can be integrated with the Formalloy AX head, Formalloy ADF or PF powder feeders, and laser to 3D print, clad and repair metal parts.
The new ADF (Alloy Development Feeder), also demonstrated at RAPID + TCT, enables high-throughput bulk alloy synthesis for development of new mate- rials and alloys. By innovating in the alloy
development space, Formalloy is enabling not only researchers but also end users by enabling rapid development of new alloys that can be utilized for product improvement and enhanced material properties for their own product, accord- ing to company officials.
Besides new-alloy development, the ADF enables precise deposition of gradi- ent materials. Each layer is pre-alloyed to ensure composition accuracy for detailed gradient strategies not achievable with other processes. Gradient parts can offer enhanced material properties and sim- plification of multiple-part assemblies made of various metals into a single part. www.formalloy.com
Deposition Printers Installed Globally
Spee3D, the Melbourne, Australia- based firm with reportedly the first-ever metal 3D printer using supersonic 3D deposition technology to deliver manu- facturing-grade printing at production speeds, has announced the installation of printers at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia; Fit AG in Lupburg, Germany; and at the University of Delaware in the United States.
At RAPID + TCT this past May, the com- pany showcased its LightSpee3d and large-format WarpSpee3d printers. Rather than using heat to melt metal powders,
18 | 3D METAL PRINTING • SUMMER 2019
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