Designfax weekly eMagazine

Subscribe Today!

Archives

View Archives

Partners

Manufacturing Center
Product Spotlight

Modern Applications News
Metalworking Ideas For
Today's Job Shops

Tooling and Production
Strategies for large
metalworking plants

Toolbox:
Producing large 3D-printed metal parts gets automated

3D Systems has introduced a next-generation additive metal production platform designed to allow manufacturers to easily scale their 3D-printing efforts and integrate them seamlessly into the factory floor. Based on the company's Direct Metal Printing (DMP) precision metals technology, the automated DMP 8500 Factory Solution features an efficient and fully integrated workflow -- from powder in to part out -- to produce repeatable, high-quality parts with a lower total cost of operation (TCO).

With the largest-diameter build size in the industry -- 500 mm x 500 mm x 500 mm -- and enabled by multiple lasers, the system is engineered to open up new applications in additive manufacturing for companies in the aerospace, industrial, and automotive industries.

The modular design of this metal additive manufacturing solution reduces required capital equipment and ensures maximum utilization as manufacturers scale production. The DMP 8500 Factory Solution is comprised of function-specific modules designed to maximize efficiency by optimizing utilization of each module, including:

• Removable Print Modules (RPMs): These sealed modules for powder and part transport between printer, powder, and transport modules enable a continuous production workflow and maximize powder quality throughout the process.
• Printer Modules are designed to withstand the rigors of 24/7 production cycles, enabling maximum printer uptime and output.
• Powder Management Modules (PMMs) efficiently de-powder parts on build platforms, automatically recycle unused powder materials, and prepare the RPM for the next build.
• Transport Modules enable efficient movement of the RPMs between printer and powder modules -- reducing production time.

"The industry is at a point where companies are looking to scale up their metal 3D-printing production, bridge the chasm, and move onto the factory floor," said Vyomesh Joshi, president and chief executive officer, 3D Systems. "The DMP 8500 Factory Solution was developed by experts with deep knowledge and experience in factory solutions and takes metal printing technology to a new level of economic efficiency."

The DMP 8500 Factory Solution will integrate 3D Systems' innovative 3DXpert software. This all-in-one software efficiently prepares and optimizes seamless large parts the size of the full build volume for streamlined direct metal production.

Find out more here.

But wait ... there's more
The DMP 8500 Factory Solution is only one piece of 3D Systems' end-to-end precision metals solution. Building upon 30 years of experience developing next-gen materials, the company has also expanded its leading portfolio of ready-to-build precision alloys, formulated to deliver unrivaled part quality and consistent part properties -- build after build.

LaserForm Maraging Steel (A), a metal that can be machined, welded, and hardened, was added to the portfolio. This new material is ideal for injection molding and tooling applications.

The company has also introduced an upgrade to customers with an existing parameter set license for specific LaserForm metal materials, which helps them achieve faster build times. The new Extra High Productivity Parameters for LaserForm Ti Gr5 (A) and Ti Gr23 (A) enable users to achieve high-speed metal printing with proven DMP quality. A high level of consistent, repeatable part quality is maintained, while build time is reduced by more than 30 percent, resulting in lower part cost.

Source: 3D Systems

Published January 2018

Rate this article