3D Metal Printing Experience and Tech Tour

August 23, 2019
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Cullen HilkeneJohn Barnes
A MarketResearchFuture.com report shows the 3D metals segment jumping from $160 million in 2016 to $800 million by the end of 2022, for a compound annual growth rate of 32 percent.

Such a fast-growing segment warrants an event to call its own, and as the only publication specifically dedicated to the industry, 3D Metal Printing magazine delivered in the form of its two-day 3D Metal Printing Experience and Tech Tour. This year’s edition, held in Novi, MI, in early August, included combined sessions led by industry experts on case-study applications, advanced materials and technologies, process improvements and more. In addition, exclusive plant tours provided opportunities to engage with company representatives and view metal additive manufacturing (AM) machines in action.

Informative Keynotes and Sessions

The event kicked off with the first of two keynote addresses. First up: Cullen Hilkene, CEO of 3Diligent. Hilkene’s talk, Metal 3D Printing: An Overview of Trends and Processes, provided attendees with an insightful perspective on today’s 3D printers and metal-AM processes.

The second keynote, Metal AM Powder Development for the Automotive Industry, provided timely information on material innovations. John E. Barnes, founder and managing director of The Barnes Group Advisors and CEO of TBC Training, shared his knowledge and expertise.

Sessions included:

  • Identifying Parts for AM—a Methodology to Identify Suitable Applications for AM, From a Technical and Economic Perspective. Presenting: SLM, Kyle Adams, application engineer, SLM Solutions, and Jaideep Bangal, business development manager, Altair Engineering.
  • Transitioning From Polymer to Metal AM. Presenting: Howard Kuhn, retired adjunct professor, University of Pittsburgh.
  • An Analysis of Metal AM Capabilities—Design Constraints, Economics and Scalability—and Their Impact on Production Applications. Presenting: Alex Huckstepp, vice president, business development, Digital Alloys.
  • Advanced Transportation: the Next AM Revolution. Presenting: Jon Walker, automotive specialist and business development manager, EOS North America.
  • Post-Processing of 3D-Printed Metal Parts. Presenting: Kevin Brigden, additive manufacturing applications engineer, Renishaw.
  • X-ray CT Technology for Quality Assurance of Metal-AM Parts. Presenting: Andrew Ramsey, X-ray/CT specialist, Nikon Metrology.

Tech Tours Include Ford and Linear AMS

Of course, not all learning took place in meeting rooms, as event attendees had the opportunity to tour the Ford Advanced Manufacturing Center in Redford, MI, and Linear AMS in Livonia, MI.

Attendees saw firsthand how Linear AMS creates 3D objects from digital CAD files in a variety of metals, producing previously impossible-to-construct shapes.

The $45-million Ford Advanced Manufacturing Center, home to more than 20 printers, collaborative robots and virtual/ augmented reality simulators, provided a great example of how the automotive company looks to technology to improve its manufacturing. 3DMP

Industry-Related Terms: Alloys, CAD, Center, Form
View Glossary of Metalforming Terms

 

See also: Renishaw Inc., Nikon Metrology, Inc., EOS of North America, Inc., SLM Solutions NA, Inc., 3Diligent Corporation

Technologies:

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