Schaeffler Special Machinery

Slogan

Partner for Production Excellence

Company or Institute Description

Everything from a single source: from the initial idea through the first plant concept to stable series production. For over 75 years, Schaeffler Special Machinery has been developing and manufacturing custom machines. Innovative ideas, creative engineering, and comprehensive manufacturing expertise set us apart and make us the preferred partner for customized production solutions.

Technology / Research

Holistic Production Approach for Additive Manufacturing in Mechanical Engineering
We take a holistic production approach, from the design of the 3D geometry to the finished component. Together with our partners, we offer a range of services that includes not only the printer and its operating software but also the supply of printing materials. Complementary services such as “design to print” or the measurement and inspection of workpieces ensure the robust production of 3D-printed products.
Our unique expertise in 3D multi-material printing lies particularly in our know-how regarding the right materials and in our consulting services for customized product design. Our knowledge of the optimal machine parameters contributes to excellent print results.

Our facility for the additive manufacturing of 3D multi-material components enables our customers to

• unique material combinations
• innovative functional integration into products and tools
• flexibility in shaping for customized, free-form design of products and tools
• rapid response to changing market requirements and designs
• shorter lead times, especially for tools and prototypes

Products / Services

Our multi-material printing process
Using our patented LPBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) technology, individual layers of the component geometry are deposited onto the print bed with pixel-level precision and fused layer by layer to form the finished component. The materials are fed from integrated powder reservoirs or an external powder supply to the so-called recoater, and the various powders are arranged on the build platform as needed and deposited layer by layer. During the scanning process, the components are built up layer by layer using a laser. Up to four laser sources can be used to efficiently process a wide variety of metals or engineering ceramics. The printing process itself takes place in a sealed process chamber flooded with argon as a protective gas. Our innovative technology enables the use of up to three different materials.

Information

Patented key technology for multi-material additive manufacturing:
The Schaeffler Aerosint Recoater is a patented technology and the heart of our OmniFusion 3D and OmniForm 3D systems. The Recoater is a system for depositing various materials onto the powder bed and thus plays a central role in multi-material 3D printing technology. Layer by layer, innovative product designs are created using optimal material combinations.