Global engineering group Sandvik announced at formnext 2018, that it is increasing its metal AM capacity by installing several RenAM 500Qquad laser 3D printers by Renishaw.
The company has continuously invested in a wide range of 3D printing process technologies for metal components, and has experience using 3D printing metals such as titanium alloys, tool steels like maraging, stainless, and duplex steels, cemented carbide, high-temperature materials, and nickel-based alloys.
This expansion is on the heels of another investment by Sandvik in a new manufacturing plant for titanium and nickel 3D printing powders, which complements the companyĀs market-leading Osprey gas atomized metal powder range.
Always taking the design of the component into consideration during the 3D printing process, the company knows itĀs also extremely important to use the right type of material, and to have a wide range of alloys in their portfolio.
During formnext 2018, Sandvik showcased many different 3D printing use cases with a variety of materials, process technologies, and post-processing methods, in addition to a selection of its Osprey powders. The 3D-printed components that were on display were real industrial customer use cases, featured at various stages of development.
A titanium Sandvik Coromant CoroMill 390 milling cutter on display was up to 80 per cent more lightweight, and 200 per cent more productive, while Varel nozzles, 3D-printed on-demand from cemented carbide, had tailor-made threads that were long enough to be used for drilling in the oil and gas industry.
Image courtesy of 3DPrint.com