3D Hybrid Metal Printer
- Detailed Technology Description
- A new hybrid, 3D, Metal, Prototyping Device combines welding technology, instead of laser sintering of a metal powder, with a subtractive/machining process (Computer Numerical Controlled Machining - CNC) to create metal parts with unmatched complexity, precision, and quality. The device has a low, initial machine cost and a low build cost, using welding wire instead of metal powder, allowing for inexpensive, large lot production of fully functional metal parts. It has complete access to all surfaces of the metal part as each layer is welded/built. This improves machining performance and part tolerances. In addition, the rotational speed of the CNC machining is slower, reducing device downtime and maintenance costs.
- *Abstract
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At present, the majority of 3D prototyping technologies (Additive Manufacturing - AM) have been developed around thermoplastics. While there are many options for creating AM plastic parts, 3D metal prototyping is limited to parts for expensive equipment and is utilized mainly by large industries, like the jet propulsion industry. The high cost of metal AM devices for prototype or replacement parts prevents most users from accessing the technology. Certain manufacturers have made notable progress withAt present, the majority of 3D prototyping technologies (Additive Manufacturing - AM) have been developed around thermoplastics. While there are many options for creating AM plastic parts, 3D metal prototyping is limited to parts for expensive equipment and is utilized mainly by large industries, like the jet propulsion industry. The high cost of metal AM devices for prototype or replacement parts prevents most users from accessing the technology. Certain manufacturers have made notable progress with AM for metal parts and have come to view it as an extremely useful process. However, the metal parts created by commercial 3D metal prototyping devices can lack precision and durability and their creation requires significant user interaction with the device as it runs. These characteristics make the technology unsuitable for many applications. AM for metal parts commonly involves laser sintering of metal particles to form a single layer of the 3D structure. The sintering is sometimes followed by machining of the sintered layer. This metal AM process requires high power consumption, expensive particle metal, and dedicated maintenance for and interaction with the AM device. The part also can require finishing steps to remove surface imperfections.
- Country/Region
- USA
