What does it mean for a machine shop to adopt laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing? What are the considerations? The half-day AM Workshop on Powder Bed Fusion at IMTS will prepare machine shops and other established manufacturers to succeed with this method of metal 3D printing. Learn more and register here.
LPBF is likely the best-established and most widely used industrial 3D printing process for metal part production. It allows for radical design possibilities, including topology optimized forms and parts with complex internal features. It allows for radical time savings by replacing casting in some cases, and replacing assembly in others thanks to part consolidation. But it also introduces engineering, qualification and material handling requirements unlike those familiar to many shops.
The build area of a laser powder bed fusion machine determines not just the size of a single part that can be printed, but also the quantity of a run of smaller parts that can be produced in one cycle. Source: Nikon SLM Solutions
This year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) will offer a chance to spend a half-day hearing from experts who can describe what is important to understand about LPBF. The AM Workshop on Powder Bed Fusion is for manufacturers who recognize the power and value of LPBF well enough that they are seriously considering adopting this capability or working with an LPBF provider. That is, shops that recognize what the capability can do and how far it might take them, but still need the tactics for success that will let them win with LPBF more quickly.
The topics and speakers for the half-day workshop include:
Programming and Build Preparation
Success in LPBF is the result of a host of complex choices that come before the build begins, and many of these choices can be automated. Dr. Michael Head from Dyndrite describes build parameters and other considerations of build setup, and how they affect the speed of 3D printing and the quality of the printed part.
Process Qualification
Laser powder bed fusion success involves consideration of postprocess machining. Source: Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing
The U.S. Navy has detailed process qualification frameworks for powder bed fusion for its Submarine Industrial Base, and Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing pursued the infrastructure and quality system advances needed for LPBF on its EOS machines to meet the Navy’s requirements. James O’Toole of Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing and Dr. Ankit Saharan of EOS discuss this.
Hardware and Software Integration
Software is an enabling tool for LPBF every bit as much as the hardware. Matt Karesh of Velo3D describes software’s increasingly important role in LPBF and how hardware and software integration contribute to repeatability, with examples of success from various AM part producers.
Part Removal
After an intricate, high-value part has been successfully 3D printed, the process is far from complete. Clay Olson of EDM Performance Accessories describes the economics of removing the part from the build plate, and how to carry out this step safely, quickly and efficiently.
Scaling Up Production
Large-format LPBF machines are powerful not just for large parts, but for large quantities of smaller parts. Brad Lemke of Nikon SLM Solutions discusses how LPBF on larger-scale machines is transforming serial production.
To join us at the AM Workshop on Powder Bed Fusion, REGISTER HERE.
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