Dyndrite, Constellium, Elementum 3D and Sandvik establish Materials Consortium for Additive Manufacturing
November 3, 2023
Dyndrite, based in Seattle, Washington, USA, has announced the formation of an industry-led Materials Consortium for Additive Manufacturing. The consortium aims to make Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) powder parameters and related testing data for common materials freely accessible to end users. The move is intended to promote knowledge sharing, improved outcomes, and faster adoption of materials and techniques.
The rise in the use of additively manufactured parts, particularly metal ones, has increased the demand for more choice and flexibility in using various materials for specific applications, explains Dyndrite. As the capabilities of Additive Manufacturing machines expand, the industry needs knowledge sharing and standardisation to speed up and broaden market adoption.
This is why, in collaboration with leading PBF-LB materials suppliers like Constellium, based in Baltimore, Maryland; Elementum 3D, headquartered in Thornton, Colorado; and Sandvik AB from Sweden, Dyndrite has formed the materials consortium.
“Materials are a key pillar of Additive Manufacturing,” stated Harshil Goel, CEO, Dyndrite. “Unfortunately, maximising the capabilities of a material, especially as it relates to the geometry being printed, is a black art within our industry. If additive is to become a mainstream manufacturing process, users require transparency and standardisation. Public access to a set of trusted, democratised parameters shines a light on the path of adoption.”
Garett Purdon, Vice President of Sales for the Americas at SLM Solutions, added, “The business case for being an open architecture metal 3D solution provider is at its core about making our customers more successful. It’s about creating choices for our customers and acknowledging that we can go further, together.”
“Sandvik has manufactured metal powder for about forty-five years and powder for Laser Powder Bed Fusion specifically for more than twenty years, leveraging the widest range of alloy powders on the market. We look forward to working with Dyndrite, Constellium, and Elementum 3D to increase users’ access to the knowledge that unlocks the full potential of AM materials,” stated Andrew Coleman, Head of Additive Manufacturing, Sandvik. “A rising tide lifts all boats, and we are excited to be a founding member of a group determined to help users, machine vendors, and material suppliers.”
Ravi Shahani, Chief Engineer, Constellium Additive Manufacturing, stated, “I’m excited to participate in the launch of the Dyndrite Materials Consortium. The Materials Consortium will make it easier for our customers to benefit from our high-performance materials designed specifically for laser powder bed fusion, such as our Aheadd® CP1 aluminium-iron-zirconium powders.
“This will help accelerate adoption of aluminium AM across multiple [PBF-LB] platforms to produce higher performance components at lower qualification cost and lower production cost,” Shahani continued. “Customers will quickly achieve predictable, robust properties, precise geometries, better surface quality, simplified post-processing and optimised print cycle times.”
Dyndrite recently launched a next-generation software for PBF-LB, aimed at materials and process development. This software allows users to fine-tune laser and material parameters to accommodate challenging features such as overhangs, domes, cantilevers, and thin walls, or to boost build throughput. Dyndrite’s tools streamline and speed up materials parameter development for leading metal AM machines such as Aconity3D, EOS, Renishaw, SLM, and others.
“We applaud Dyndrite for their foresight in bringing materials suppliers together in support of the designers and manufacturers. This effort is designed to grow our industry by giving innovators a solid head start for realising their innovations,” Dr Jeremy Iten, Chief Technology Officer, Elementum 3D, shared. “For us, Dyndrite’s [PBF-LB] tools have allowed us to increase geometric capability and print quality while dramatically reducing the time it takes to prepare builds. Parameter sets developed using Dyndrite surpassed our previous capability for supportless low angle features, thus expanding the range of applications favouring Additive Manufacturing. Dyndrite is helping Elementum 3D deliver a more effective product to our customers.”
The Materials Consortium members will work together to produce, test, and publicly share parameters for their materials.
Dyndrite, Elementum and Sandvik Additive Manufacturing are all exhibiting at Formnext 2023. Dyndrite is in Hall 11.1; Elementum 3D, 11.1, C62; and Sandvik, 11.0, D24.
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