2024/01/17
ID: 4648

80% more productivity in 3D printing

DMG MORI Additive strengthens SLM process with automation technology

"Our aim is to achieve a high level of maturity of CNC machines with our additive manufacturing machines," explains Dr. Vino Suntharakumaran, Managing Director at DMG MORI Additive GmbH. The company is not far off reaching this aim with the LASERTEC 30 DUAL SLM, which increases productivity by 80%. Festo has been brought on board as a development partner. Thanks to its ready-to-install automation solution, the inert gas atmosphere is precisely managed.  

The LASERTEC 30 DUAL SLM from DMG MORI Additive is the flagship for additive manufacturing by selective laser melting (SLM) in a powder bed. It produces highly complex components with function integration, internal close-contoured cooling channels and reduces product development times thanks to prototypes made of series materials that are available straightaway. Two powerful 600 W lasers, each with scan fields covering the entire installation space, enable build rates of up to 90 cm³/h. 

 

Faster and safer powder module change

Other advantages: the dual-laser system improves productivity by 80% compared to a single-laser system. The powder module for quick material change, called rePLUG, automates powder handling. Reprocessing the powder in an inert gas atmosphere ensures greater efficiency and occupational safety thanks to the closed material circuit. With the powder module, it is possible to switch between different materials in less than two hours and without any contamination.

 

Another innovation is the permanent filter system, which works independently of the material and offers a new level of durability and occupational safety thanks to the automatic passivation of metal dusts. Since the installation space is actively cooled, users can remove finished components earlier and thus prepare new jobs more quickly. The result is a further increase in productivity.

 

Process gas fully under control

The process gas atmosphere plays a decisive role. It is important that the pressure and oxygen content remains within narrow limits to ensure high component quality. "A Festo automation solution helped us achieve a breakthrough here," says Suntharakumaran. The solution consists of a unit for filling the working chamber with inert gas. Only a safe inert gas atmosphere ensures stable processes in additive manufacturing. "The prerequisite for this is innovative products for flow and pressure control, which we get from Festo," adds 3D expert Suntharakumaran.

 

The ready-to-install complete solution from Festo consists of a mounting plate equipped with the valve terminal VTUG including EtherCAT bus connection, the pinch valve VZQA, the MS4 service unit and the proportional-pressure regulator VEAB. The valve terminal VTUG is suitable both in terms of pneumatics and control technology. The pinch valve VZQA precisely controls the inert gas argon and the evacuation of the gas mixture during the purging process.

 

Innovative automation solution

The proportional-pressure regulator VEAB is compact yet has precise and dynamic control characteristics. These valves offer high-precision flow control at up to 20 l/min. with low hysteresis, high repeat accuracy and low energy consumption. The proportional characteristics of a piezo bender with direct actuation ensure stable and reliable regulation and a stepless pressure rise. The MS4 service unit has a modular design for compressed air supply and its components can be freely combined. These include pressure regulators, on/off and soft-start valves with safety function, filters, pressure and flow sensors, dryers, sensors and lubricators. This means there is a solution for every task.

 

All automation products used are suitable for inert gases. "This solution keeps the pressure and oxygen content within narrow limits," adds the 3D printing expert. It also halves the cycle time by shortening the time needed to fill the workspace.

 

Simulation software also in demand

Festo services are not limited to supplying the automation solution. The automation manufacturer's experts were also involved in developing the machine. With appropriate software and engineering tools from Festo for simulation, it was possible to embed the automation components in the machine and the development processes at an early stage and thus become part of the solution early on.

 

DMG MORI, as one of the world's leading companies in machine tool manufacturing, is further expanding its technological leadership. "That is why it is important for us to join forces with innovative partners. Festo is such a partner for us, because as a manufacturer of pneumatic and electric automation technology it focuses and works on future topics, as can be seen in bionic grippers or the Festo AX digitalisation solution," explains Suntharakumaran. They are thus both looking for further solutions to automate labour-intensive activities, for example when loading and unloading the construction cylinder.

 

About DMG MORI:

DMG MORI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT is a leading global manufacturer of machine tools with a turnover of over € 2.0 billion and more than 6,800 employees. Around 12,000 employees of this "Global One Company" are in direct contact with over 100,000 customers from 55 industries. DMG MORI is present in 87 countries worldwide – with 16 production plants and 111 sales and service locations. The company is actively driving the future topics of automation, digitalisation and sustainability.

High-precision machine tools and sustainable technologies from DMG MORI are used at the start of global value chains. Comprehensive automation and end-to-end digitalisation solutions expand the core business with turning and milling machines, advanced technologies and additive manufacturing.

 

 

费斯托 (Festo)是一家全球性的独立的家族企业,总部位于德国埃斯林根。自成立以来,Festo在工业自动化技术和技术教育方面制定标准,从而为环境、经济和社会的可持续发展做出贡献。公司为超过35个行业的30万家工厂和过程自动化客户提供气动和电驱动自动化技术解决方案,其中生命科学和实验室自动化业务受到越来越多的关注。Festo产品和服务遍布176个国家。2023年,费斯托在全球61个国家的250多个分支机构拥有约20600名员工,实现销售额36.5亿欧元。每年约7%的销售额用于研发。在这家学习型企业,1.5%的销售额用于基础和进一步培训。Festo 教学培训 (Didactic SE) 是全球领先的技术教育和培训供应商,为全球客户提供工业环境中全面的数字化和常规学习解决方案。

© Festo SE & Co. KG
DMG MORI Additive - LASERTEC 30 DUAL SLM
Flagship for additive manufacturing by selective laser melting (SLM) in a powder bed: the LASERTEC 30 DUAL SLM from DMG MORI Additive. In the foreground, Dr Vino Suntharakumaran, Managing Director at DMG MORI Additive (on the right side), talking...
© Festo SE & Co. KG
DMG MORI Additive - Dr. Vino Suntharakumaran
Dr. Vino Suntharakumaran, Managing Director at DMG MORI Additive GmbH
© Festo SE & Co. KG
DMG MORI Additive - ready-to-install complete solution
Safe inert gas atmosphere for stable processes in additive manufacturing thanks to a ready-to-install complete solution from Festo.

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