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Additive Manufacturing

Direct and indirect Process Overview: Additive Manufacturing processes

Additive methods can be divided into two categories. Direct methods, such as SLM and EBM, are very well known and have reached a broad market acceptance in the industrial environment.

However, indirect methods have become more important in recent years. With these methods a green part is produced in the first process step, which is debinded and sintered in the second step.

Direct AM Methods Indirect AM Methods
Method L-PBF, EBM

One-step process
Direct production of components through welding processes
BJ, CMF, M-FDM

Two-step process
In the first step: Production of green parts
In the second step: Debinding and sintering of the green parts
Advantages
  • Material can be applied to existing structures
  • High degree of development
  • High reproducibility
  • Wide variety of materials possible, materials can be processed that are also not weldable
  • Component properties comparable to MIM components
  • Highest ratio of the volume of all printed parts to printer volume (even stacking is possible)
Disadvantages
  • Rough surfaces
  • High thermal stresses are introduced into the components as a result of the process
  • Support structures are required for complex geometries
  • Surface porosity
  • Reworking of components required, removal of support structures always necessary
  • High heat input
  • Powder handling
  • Sintering distortion of the components possible
  • More complex process chain compared to direct
  • AM methods

Furnaces & Ovens for direct additive methods

In direct additive processes high thermal stress is often generated by high heat input during the printing process. CARBOLITE GERO provides customers with two suitable furnaces to achieve the best possible component properties.

GPCMA - Modified Atmosphere Furnace

The GPCMA modified atmosphere chamber furnaces are equipped with a metallic retort to provide a heated volume with a controlled atmosphere. They are floorstanding models with a smooth action hinged door arrangement.

Available with a range of maximum temperature from 1000 °C to 1150 °C depending on the selected retort material. Retort working volumes range from 37 to 245 litres.

Oxygen levels can be reduced to 30 ppm depending on the application. Perfect for stress relieving additive manufactured components particularly those produced via DMLS. This range of furnaces can be optionally specified for compliance to AMS2750F Nadcap class 1 for aerospace applications.
 

Model Retort capacity
Plate Size
350 x 250 x 250
(H x W x D) [mm]
Retort capacity
Plate Size
400 x 400 x 400
(H x W x D) [mm]
GPCMA/37 1 Plate, max height 100 mm Not  applicable
GPCMA/56 1 Plate, max height 150 mm Not  applicable
GPCMA/117 2 Plates, max height 200 mm 1 Plate, max height 200 mm
GPCMA/174 2 Plates, max height 350 mm 1 Plate, max height 350 mm
GPCMA/208 3 Plates, max height 350 mm 2 Plates, max height 350 mm
GPCMA/245 4 Plates, max height 400 mm 1 Plate, max height 400 mm

Product Video: Kameroven met gemodificeerde atmosfeer - GPCMA


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Product Video: Kameroven met gemodificeerde atmosfeer - GPCMA

V-L - Top Hat Furnace

The V-L furnace is suitable for generating the lowest achievable operation pressures. Due to this vacuum capability, the highest purity gas atmosphere can be achieved.

Toepassingsvoorbeelden

  • Annealing, brazing, degassing, quenching, rapid prototyping, sintering, soldering, synthesis, tempering, stress relieving 3D printed additive manufactured parts

Benefits

  • Stress relieving
  • Argon, nitrogen, forming gas, high vacuum
  • Oxygen levels <<30 ppm
  • Precise temperature uniformity

Product Video: V-L soldering tube furnace


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Product Video: V-L soldering tube furnace

Typical heat treatment process:
High vacuum heat treatment of titanium alloy for stress relieving after laser-3D-printing with turbo pump 1200 L/s

V-L 180-300

Temperature Deviation in +-°C
X-axis:  Temperature in °C

V-L 450-600

Temperature Deviation in +-°C
X-axis:  Temperature in °C

Debinding & Sintering Furnaces for indirect additive methods

Glo 8 Litre - Entry-Level Furnace

With the GLO 8/13 Carbolite Gero provides a small versatile furnace for Additive Manufacturing. The furnace features rotationally symmetrical heating elements that surround a cylindrical retort, ensuring uniform heating along the entire length. The furnace can be operated either with nitrogen, argon or forming gas (N2/H2 95/5 % or Ar/H2 98/2 %).

Toepassingsvoorbeelden

  • Thermal debinding, sintering, pyrolysis, synthesis, annealing, tempering

Benefits

  • Up to 1300 °C
  • ∅ 180 mm
  • Gas tight
  • Robust and reliable

Glo 8 Litre - Entry-Level Furnace

HTK 8 to 120 litre - Advanced furnaces

The high temperature furnace range HTK of Carbolite Gero consists of several metallic heated furnaces made of molybdenum and tungsten.

These furnaces can be operated up to 2200 °C with hydrogen, nitrogen and argon, or even in vacuum, depending on the customer's requirements. The concentration of the gases is freely adjustable.

The HTK 8 and HTK 25 chamber furnaces are widely used for indirect Additive Manufacturing applications. The usable space, precise temperature control and uniformity are beneficial characteristics for indirect Additive Manufacturing processes.

Toepassingsvoorbeelden

  • Thermal debinding, sintering, pyrolysis, synthesis, annealing, tempering

Benefits

  • Up to 2200 °C
  • 8 to 320 litres volume
  • Fine or high vacuum
  • Suitable for all materials

Video's

Product Video: Kameroven met gemodificeerde atmosfeer - GPCMA

Product Video: V-L - Top Hat Furnace

Product Video: Kameroven, metalen isolatie - HTK

Product Video: HTMA - Oven met gecontroleerde atmosfeer

Contacteer ons voor een vrijblijvend advies

Carbolite Gero products and services are available via a global network of daughter companies and fully trained distributors. Our staff will be happy to assist with any inquiry you might have.

Contact us for a free consultation and talk to a product specialist to find the most suitable solution for your application needs!
 

Contacteer ons voor een vrijblijvend advies

Verder Scientific - Solutions for Powder Injection Moulding and Additive Manufacturing

Solutions for Powder Injection Moulding and Additive Manufacturing

In addition to Carbolite Gero furnaces for heat treatment, Verder Scientific's other product lines offer further solutions for the entire metal injection moulding process as well as additive manufacturing technologies in general:

  • ELTRA: Determination of material element concentrations with elemental analyzers
  • MICROTRAC: Quality control of powder with particle size and shape analyzers
  • QATM: Microstructure analysis and hardness testing with metallography equipment
  • RETSCH: Recycling of material with mills and sieve shakers