Metal 3D Printing: The advantages of 3D printing metals
Metsäranta, Henrik (2021)
Metsäranta, Henrik
2021
Teknisten tieteiden kandidaattiohjelma - Bachelor's Programme in Engineering Sciences
Tekniikan ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2021-05-21
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202105195170
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202105195170
Tiivistelmä
This thesis explores metal 3D printing technologies, its advantages, and its applications. The most popular methods of 3D printing metallic materials are powder bed fusion (PBF) methods, direct energy deposition (DED), and binder jetting. The text discusses the main differences and similarities of these 3D printing methods. Direct metal laser deposition (DMLS) and selective laser melting (SLM) use a laser to sinter and melt metal powder, respectively. Electron beam melting (EBM) uses an electron beam to melt metal powder, and it is mainly used to process brittle metals. DED deposits and melts the metal simultaneously; it can use powder or wire as the feed material. Finally, binder jetting consists of fusing layers of metal powder together with a binder material. Binder jetting requires lots of post processing but is very cost efficient.
The main advantages of metal 3D printing are the almost unlimited design possibilities and one-step manufacturing. Being able to design a component with a computer, then directly manu-facture the component with a 3D printer has led to rapid prototyping. Miniature and fully functional prototypes can be produced in a matter of days. The freedom of design has led to the production of newly designed parts. This includes parts with entirely new design, as well as parts, which were previously assembled from several components. Many components are being redesigned, espe-cially to achieve a light weight.
Metal 3D printing is being utilized mostly by the medical and automotive industries. The med-ical industry uses it to produce customized implants and new medical tools. The automotive in-dustry uses it for prototyping, producing light weight components, and producing rare spare parts. In general, metal 3D printing is used to produce expensive, specialized, and low-volume parts. In the future, metal 3D printing may become less expensive, which can open new possibilities. How-ever, due to the high cost, metal 3D printing will not replace most conventional methods of pro-duction.
The main advantages of metal 3D printing are the almost unlimited design possibilities and one-step manufacturing. Being able to design a component with a computer, then directly manu-facture the component with a 3D printer has led to rapid prototyping. Miniature and fully functional prototypes can be produced in a matter of days. The freedom of design has led to the production of newly designed parts. This includes parts with entirely new design, as well as parts, which were previously assembled from several components. Many components are being redesigned, espe-cially to achieve a light weight.
Metal 3D printing is being utilized mostly by the medical and automotive industries. The med-ical industry uses it to produce customized implants and new medical tools. The automotive in-dustry uses it for prototyping, producing light weight components, and producing rare spare parts. In general, metal 3D printing is used to produce expensive, specialized, and low-volume parts. In the future, metal 3D printing may become less expensive, which can open new possibilities. How-ever, due to the high cost, metal 3D printing will not replace most conventional methods of pro-duction.
Kokoelmat
- Kandidaatintutkielmat [9897]