Accessibility
Language
"Copper Globe" - illustrative sample and exhibit
Manufacturing options with Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF)
Description of the component:
The "Copper Globe" object shown is not a technical application, but serves as an illustrative sample and exhibit. It visualizes the production possibilities, in particular Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), at Schmelzmetall Deutschland GmbH. All components were manufactured from the company's own Hovadur® copper alloys.
Challenges:
For the hand and the globe, the focus is on detailing, free-form surfaces, weight optimization and dispensing with support structures in the visible area (minimal reworking). Both components are either impossible or very time-consuming and cost-intensive to produce using conventional methods.
Solution:
In general, the solution is to use LPBF. This made it possible to ensure manufacturability and keep costs low. Weight optimization was achieved by making the components hollow. The wall thicknesses of the ball are between 0.4 and 0.7 mm and have a very high density. Despite the very thin wall thickness, good mechanical and physical properties are achieved after heat treatment. In order to keep post-processing to a minimum, an enveloping surface was printed at a small distance from the outer surface in the lower area of the sphere instead of support structures. This made the construction job and a good surface roughness possible.
Conclusion:
Additive manufacturing or LPBF offers possibilities that were previously impossible or only cost-intensive to implement. The illustrative example shows a fraction of the advantages of additive manufacturing. Wherever added value can be created through a functionally optimized design, additive manufacturing is a possible or even the only alternative.