New large device at FBK

Additive manufacturing is becoming increasingly important in modern process chains. By building up workpieces layer by layer, it is possible to produce workpieces that are complex to manufacture conventionally with comparatively little effort. To investigate the possibilities offered by this exciting field of research, the chairs of Production Engineering and Industrial Organization (FBK), Mechanical and Apparatus Engineering Design (KIMA), Materials Science (WKK), Machine Elements and Gear Technology (MEGT), Metrology and Sensor Technology (MTS) and Engineering Mechanics (LTM) worked closely together to acquire a new large-scale device.

The additive manufacturing system (ProX DMP 320) from 3D Systems uses the selective laser melting process. The powdered raw material is deposited with a defined layer thickness in the installation space of the system after each melting process. A fiber laser with an output of up to 500 W melts the material layer at the appropriate positions to produce the desired workpiece layer by layer. The installation space of the system measures 275x275x420 mm, the minimum layer thickness of the individually melted material layers is 2 µm. The comprehensive control system of the ProX DMP 320 allows the production parameters of selective laser melting to be varied in order to investigate the effects of, for example, laser power or layer thickness on the properties of the workpiece. The acquisition of the new large-scale device will enable the FBK to investigate the special features of additively manufactured workpieces with regard to post-processing.