Page 7 - 3D Metal Printing magazine Fall 2022

capabilities and expertise in delivering injection molding, CNC machining and other services to customers worldwide.
Headquartered in Clinton Township, MI, Xcentric provides an array of quick- turn digital injection molding and CNC solutions, from rapid prototyping to product creation at scale via nearly 100 full-time employees and 60,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space.
New Study Reveals Metal-AM Potential to Reduce Carbon Footprint
Metal AM can contribute to reducing greenhouse gases through material sav-
So which manufacturing technology delivers the lowest carbon footprint? It depends, according to the report.
“The overall footprint is heavily influ- enced by the alloy group as well as the part geometry,” says Dr. Eric Wycisk, lead author of the study at Ampower. “Complex geometries with high ‘buy-to- fly’ ratios are favorable for net-shape technologies such as AM and casting, while simple parts might be most sus- tainable if milled.”
Considering titanium alloys, laser and electron-beam powder-bed fusion AM can reduce the carbon footprint signifi- cantly when compared to milling. Due to
AM’s ability to manufacture weight- optimized designs, material input and the embodied energy are signifi- cantly smaller and compensate for higher energy consumption in the part-manufacturing process, the study reports. Embodied energy is less prominent for aluminum alloys and stainless steels.
In the framework of this study, Ampower developed a Sustainability Calculator for the CO2 footprint, which enables the assessment of a variety of alloy and technology com- binations as well as customization of process routes. Download the report,
Sustainability of Metal Additive Manufac- turing—Analysis of the CO2 Footprint Along the Additive Manufacturing Process Chain, at www.ampower.eu/insights.
AddUp Machine Slated for New WBA Tooling Academy Platform in Germany
The WBA Tooling Academy in Ger- many is equipping its new AM platform with an AddUp laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) AM machine for use by manufac- turers on tooling projects.
WBA’s AM platform officially opens its doors in early 2023, housing a new- generation FormUp 350 machine from AddUp. With this machine, tool makers who submit application cases to WBA
Industry News 3D will be able to go beyond simple proof
of concept—instead having the ability to study all aspects of their projects, from the design applied to LPBF technology to the profitability analysis and the study of series production, explain AddUp officials.
Based in Aachen, the WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie GmbH func- tions as a technical reference center for the tooling industry, offering consulting, training and research activities to pro- mote innovative technologies applicable to mold and tool production. WBA also provides companies with strategic and organizational support on all topics regarding toolmaking.
Concurrent Technologies Taps SLM Solutions to Help Build World’s Largest Metal-AM Machine
Concurrent Technologies Corp. (CTC) recently was awarded a $5.2 million U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contract that involves building the world’s largest metal-AM machine. CTC is working with subcontractor SLM Solu- tions NA, Inc. (U.S. office) to build the metal 3D printer, which features an extended 1.5-meter build envelope in the Z axis. The project’s intent: Over- come the limits of current AM equip- ment to build longer parts for critical defense applications.
“We are excited to play a role in this ground-breaking AM advancement,” says Edward J. Sheehan, Jr., CTC presi- dent and CEO of the AFRL project. “The technical work we are performing for this project includes elements of CTC’s full- service portfolio of AM capabilities including design, testing, post process- ing, machining and qualification.”
Says Sam O’Leary, SLM Solutions CEO: “Partnering with CTC will help us achieve the goal to create a new AM capability. We look forward to collabo- rating on an AM machine that will work much faster than existing equipment and feature the largest build envelope in the industry by far.”
CO2 emissions of a stainless-steel component pro- duced via various processes, as published in Ampower’s report on sustainability of metal AM.
ings, according to a new study from industry consultant Ampower. This effect, the study reads, is even greater if the use-phase in the product lifecycle is considered.
Amid a rise in desire for sustainability worldwide, AM has been promoted as a production technology that can reduce emissions and, consequently, the carbon footprint of part production and com- plete product lifecycle. However, Ampow- er officials explain, detailed calculations looking at the complete production route and objective comparisons against conventional manufacturing have been scarce. The Ampower study, initiated in 2021 with 20 industrial partners, investi- gates the carbon footprint of different metal-AM technologies as compared to traditional metal-processing technolo- gies such as machining and casting.
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