3D Systems, Oerlikon Join Forces to Advance Metal Additive Manufacturing

3D Systems and Oerlikon AM have entered into a partnership agreement in an effort further scale metal additive manufacturing (AM). Combining both organizations’ process and applications expertise with 3D Systems’ Direct Metal Printing platform and Oerlikon AM’s surface engineering capabilities is said to enable a faster path to market for applications in high-criticality industries such as semiconductor and aerospace.

As part of this agreement, Oerlikon AM is acquiring its fourth 3D Systems DMP Factory 500 system, the first Oerlikon AM is adding in the U.S., to be part of the manufacturing workflow in its North Carolina facility. This will help expand Oerlikon’s end-to-end supply chain solution for high-precision, complex aluminum components for the U.S. market.

3D Systems’ Application Innovation Group (AIG) collaborated with Oerlikon AM’s Application Engineering to develop this solution. Both teams possess expertise not only in AM but in high-value applications across a variety of industries. Their combined experience with the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process and material and process qualification can be invaluable to the production of high-criticality parts with lower life cycle costs.

The 3D Systems direct metal printing (DMP) technology and Oerlikon’s AM production and surface engineering capabilities can result in a validated, certified production process for Oerlikon’s customers. This workflow includes the DMP Factory 500, a platform featuring a vacuum chamber to ensure the lowest O2 content, and a 3-laser configuration for the production of seamless large parts as large as 500 mm × 500 mm x 500mm. This results in a high surface quality for metal 3D printed parts with outstanding material properties.

Oerlikon AM says that the adoption of AM technology for series production is occuring at an ever-increasing pace. “For our customers to remain competitive in core technology markets (including semicon and aerospace), scale-up to series production is dependent upon the successful execution of application development, qualification and timely ramp-up to full-scale production,” says Jonathan Cornelus, business development manager, Oerlikon AM. “With Oerlikon and 3DSystems joining forces, this partnership will accelerate the industrialization of metal AM through an integrated team approach between the customer, printer OEM and manufacturing partner. The efficiency gains will maximize the benefits of additive manufacturing across design, materials, printing and postprocessing to break performance barriers in the manufacturing supply chain.”

Industries such as aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing require precision without compromise. “Companies focusing on these areas require constant innovation to meet the accuracy, speed, reliability and productivity demands of increasingly complex production,” says Scott Green, solutions leader, 3D Systems. “Bringing together the industry-leading technology and applications expertise of 3D Systems and Oerlikon AM is delivering increased quality, improved total cost of ownership, reduced time to market and minimized supply chain disruption. I’m looking forward to seeing how our collaboration can amplify and accelerate the potential of metal AM.”