GE Additive entered into a five-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The agreement focuses on processes, materials and software to drive industrialization and encourage the broader adoption of additive-manufacturing (AM) technology. The agreement supersedes an existing CRADA in place since 2012 between ORNL and GE Additive Arcam EBM. ORNL purchased its first Arcam EBM system in 2009. Since that time, ORNL and the Arcam EBM teams have worked together to create opportunities for companies in multiple U.S. manufacturing sectors to adopt electron-beam melting (EBM) technology. 

Just as we’ve done in the past with other topics, Industrial Heating will take a look at the most-viewed Vacuum/Surface Treating articles (in terms of page views) on our website. Data was collected for 12 months, from August 2018 to August 2019.

Alfa Romeo Racing, operated by Sauber Motorsport AG, selected Quintus Technologies as its hot isostatic pressing (HIP) partner. The Formula One team invested in a press with proprietary URQ technology, which allows heat treatment and cooling to be combined in a single process, known as high-pressure heat treatment (HPHT). HPHT and HIP are used for the consolidation and densification of metal, producing a maximum theoretical density, ductility and fatigue resistance in high-performance materials. This makes it ideal for ultrahigh-performance automotive applications.

The ExOne Company and Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. (GTP) entered into a collaboration to advance tungsten-based metal 3D printing using binder jetting. Binder jetting is a 3D-printing process that uses a digital file to inkjet a bonding agent into a bed of powder particles, creating a solid part one layer at a time. The new ExOne-GTP collaboration focuses on the development of two metal matrix composites: cemented carbide (WC-Co), a material with very high hardness and toughness that is widely used for the production of cutting tools and wear-resistant parts; and copper-tungsten (CuW), which is used in applications where high heat resistance, high electrical and thermal conductivity, and low thermal expansion are needed.

Markforged opened a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Billerica, Mass, that will enable the company to more than double its production capacity, support increased demand for its metal and carbon-fiber 3D printers and create new jobs. The new facility will support the fabrication of all Markforged materials that are used by companies in the aerospace, automotive and manufacturing fields. It currently hosts 35 members of staff. Markforged expects to add another 25 hires in the coming years.

Delta H supplied a dual-chamber aerospace heat-treating (DCAHT) system to Sintavia, a Hollywood, Fla-based provider of additive-manufacturing services. The furnace features dual chambers operable to 1200°F and 500°F with precision control and temperature uniformity and a roll-away stainless steel quench tank. The DCAHT system qualifies as Class 2 (+/-10°F) per AMS 2750E and includes all controls, data-acquisition technology and spare-parts package to be in full compliance with all aerospace pyrometry standards, including Nadcap.

Kennametal Inc. formed a 3D-printing materials and production business unit, Kennametal Additive Manufacturing, as part of its Infrastructure segment. Kennametal Additive Manufacturing combines the company’s expertise in materials science and wear-resistant solutions with additive-manufacturing capabilities to supply high-performance metal additive powders and fully finished 3D-printed parts for wear, erosion, corrosion and high-temperature applications. The new business unit is already shipping production parts to customers. These high-performance wear components include parts printed with powders specifically designed and optimized for 3D printing.

Siemens and Materials Solutions opened a highly advanced metal AM innovation center in Orlando, Fla. The 17,000-square-foot facility offers a pairing of design with manufacturing, implementing robotics, rapid prototyping, scanning, digital tools and on-site metal AM. Materials Solutions – a Siemens Business – uses selective laser melting (SLM) technology for the manufacture of high-performance metal parts, with a focus on high-temperature superalloys. The Siemens innovation center will focus on rapid problem solving supporting the company’s energy businesses, while Materials Solutions will offer additive services to support the innovation center and external customers. 

3D Systems of Rock Hill, S.C., has been awarded a $15 million contract by the Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to create the world’s largest, fastest and most precise metal 3D printer. The printer’s build envelope is planned to be 1,000 mm x 1,000 mm x 600 mm, which is a significant increase over current large-scale metal 3D printers with a build envelope of 500 mm x 500 mm x 500 mm. The printer will revolutionize key supply chains associated with long-range munitions, next-generation combat vehicles, helicopters, and air and missile defense capabilities.

Gefertec LLC will open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Danville, Va. The $1.9 million project is expected to create eight new jobs. Germany’s Gefertec says it is the only company worldwide that provides 3DMP technology, which uses wire-arc-welding-based metal additive manufacturing to create near-net-shape components. The company also claims that the technology can simplify the process of conventional manufacturing to three steps: warehousing, manufacturing and then finishing with the integration of an optional milling system. The Danville facility will produce Gefertec’s 3DMP machines.