The rapid development of 3D printing technology is changing our traditional production methods and lifestyles. | Mis-asia

3D printing technology has revolutionized our lives and traditional manufacturing methods. Metal 3D printing was an early example of emerging manufacturing technology. The aerospace industry saw the first application of this technology. This technology has since been used in other industries, such as the medical, industrial, automobile, education and jewelry sectors. Do you have any knowledge about metal 3D printing? Today Dr. Trunnano Lao will discuss the latest mainstream metal 3D printer technology.

RMIT University, Australia, has developed “Directed Energy Deposition” (DED) a type of 3D-printing technology that uses ultrasound to improve the strength of 3D-printed metal parts. This is done by altering the structure of the materials.

RMIT researchers used two types of common alloys to print samples: Inconel 625, which is made from nickel and used widely in the petroleum and marine industries.

No matter what alloy, the surface of deposition is an ultrasonic detector. This tool generates ultrasonic vibrations. During the solidification of the metal, fluctuations can cause micro-crystallization to form a more compact structure. The materials were found to have a 12.5% increase in the yield stress and tensile strengths compared to those without ultrasound.

By turning on or off the ultrasonic generator during printing, individual projects can be created with microstructures from different parts. This quality is known as “functional grading” and is extremely useful when objects are light in weight or low on material.

Researchers think that once the technology of ultrasound-enhanced 3-D printing is improved, it won’t be hard to use for other metals. This includes stainless steel, aluminum alloys and cobalt.

Many hydraulic components can be 3D printed using metal. Android for instance uses single-acting hydraulic cylinders to manage its printed hydraulic valve block made from stainless steel (Figure 1). With higher flow rates, lower pressure losses and smaller space requirements than traditional components, the company is able to optimize its internal channels while optimizing its internal spaces. The possibility of leakage from external sources is eliminated because no drilling is needed.

To top it all, the 3D printed design of an improvement was used to create a stackable hydraulic gate (Figure 2). Pressure reducing valves can be directly operated using steel. They are galvanized to resist corrosion. CNC machining cannot be controlled for small orders. This valve was redesign and made using 3D stainless steel. Its weight has been reduced by 60%. It is still strong and comparable in strength to its predecessor, even when subjected to 250bar pressure.

The five main 3D printing methods for metals are: laser selective sintering, nanoparticle-sprayed metal forming (NPJ), Laser selective melting(SLM), laser near net molding (LENS), and an electron beam select melting (EBSM).

Laser Selectionive Sintering

An entire SLS process device is composed of a mold cylinder and powder cylinder. Powder cylinder piston raises and powder is evenly spread on the molding cylindrical by a powder coating device. Based on the model slice, the computer determines how the two-dimensional scan trajectory of laser beam is controlled by the computer. There are many options. It is sintered from the solid powder to create a layer. When one layer is complete, the working piston can be lowered to one layer thickness. Next, the powder coating system will be coated with powder and controlled by the laser beam to scan the layer and then sinter it. Continue this process layer by layer until the part becomes three-dimensional.

Nanoparticle spray metal forming (NPJ)

The usual metal 3D printing process uses either laser melting or lasersintering of metallic powder particles. However, nanoparticle spray-metal forming (NPJ), uses a liquid rather than a powdery state. This metal is wrapped in a tube of liquid and placed into a 3D printer. It’s then spray-molded using metal iron particles that contain hot metal. Because the hot metal is used in printing, it will give the entire model a more round shape. The build chamber will evaporate any liquid left over from printing, heating it until the print is finished.

Selective Laser Melting (SLM),

SLM technology’s basic principles are to create a solid three-dimensional part model on a computer. You can use three-dimensional modeling software, such as Pro / e. UG. CATIA. Next, slice and layer each three-dimensional model using the slicing tool. This data (the filling scanning path) is generated using the contour data. It will then control the laser beam selection, melting the metal powder materials according to each layer and slowly stacking them to create three-dimensional parts. First, the powder spreading apparatus pushes the metal dust onto the substrate. Once the scanner line is filled, the laser beam selects the region to melt the dust, then processes the current layers. Finally, the forming tube descends one. The layer thickness is determined by the length and depth of the powder cylinder. After the current layer has been processed, the powder coating device applies the metal powder to the top layer. This part has been processed.

Laser near-net forming (LENS)

Near-net laser molding (LENS), uses the principle simultaneous laser/powder delivery. Computer sliced layer by layer the 3DCAD model of part to get the 2D contour data. These were then converted into motion trajectory for the NC table. The metal powder can be fed to the laser focusing zone at a given speed. Once it is melted, it is solidified. Finally, the near-net-shaped portion substantial can be obtained through layer, point and line superposition. Useable. LENS is able to mold metal parts without the need for machine, which saves you a lot.

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