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Innovation Day at the Laser Center Hanover deals with the state of the art in laser additive manufacturing
The generic term laser additive manufacturing usually summarizes the laser beam-based 3D printing processes, ie selective laser sintering (SLS printing) on the one hand and selective laser melting (SLM printing) on the other.
In the context of metal 3D printing, the SLM process is particularly important, also known as selective laser beam melting (we already reported on it).
The state of research in laser additive manufacturing of metals in the context of the Industry 4.0 megatrend was the topic of an innovation day recently organized by the Laser Zentrum Hannover eV (LZH) in cooperation with NiedersachsenMetall on November 9, 2016 (for the third time).
Since we, as a professional 3D printing service provider, always strive to present you with the latest and most relevant research results from the world of 3D printing technologies, we would like to present the most important results of this event to you today.
Under the initial question “Are we ready for the implementation of Industry 4.0?”, the immense importance of digitization for innovation potential and new markets initially formed the thematic hook. The state of the art in laser additive metal processing processes was presented in individual, topic-related lectures.
Of particular interest are the lectures by LZH department head Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kaierle and by Bastian Lippert from the Leibnitz University of Hanover.
Ultra lightweight construction through selective laser melting
Bastian Lippert, employee at the Institute for Product Development and Device Construction (IPeG) at Leibnitz University Hanover, presented the state of the art in product design using selective laser melting in his presentation entitled “3D design for selective laser melting”.
Lippert first emphasized the good mechanical ones component properties of workpieces from SLM printing, the goal of which is (ultra) lightweight construction. In the further lecture, he explained the steps required in this variant of laser additive manufacturing for model generation, from potential analysis and application, to stress and production-oriented detailing, to the actual model generation, the printing process. Lippert came to the conclusion that selective laser melting enables a weight saving of 40.4% compared to the original model.
Best surface qualities in selective laser melting
Under the title “Selective Laser Beam Melting: State of the Art”, Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kaierle from the Hanover Laser Center explains, among other things, how this process has become the best in micro and macro processing surface finishes generated. This surface quality goes hand in hand with the possibility of also accurately mapping complex, filigree structures.
The Hanover Laser Center, founded in 1986 and funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Labor and Transport, has set itself the task of promoting applied research in the field of laser technology.
If we have aroused your interest in selective laser melting, visit our website and use this opportunity to get to know our other 3D printing technologies.
For metal printing