Metal Binder Jetting Enables Cost Savings – New Hands-On Training Teaches the Basics

Metal Binder Jetting is one of the most promising Additive Manufacturing processes when it comes to developing new, profitable series applications in medical technology or in industries such as automotive or mechanical engineering. This is due to the significantly higher productivity and precision compared to already established metal 3D printing processes. Above all, the technology promises a significant reduction in unit costs in series applications.

But how can companies benefit from this in the future and make optimal use of this technology? The specialists from AMPOWER and the Fraunhofer IAPT answer these questions in a two-day training course at the Additive Academy® in Hamburg. The theoretical and practical training units should enable companies to get to know the full potential as well as the associated restrictions of this procedure and to be able to evaluate them accordingly for their company.

“The Binder Jetting technology is significantly more complex than comparable processes. In order to be able to use the full potential, it is important to understand the process parameters and design restrictions,” says Matthias Schmidt-Lehr (Managing Partner, AMPOWER).

On the first day of the training, the participating companies benefit from a comprehensive overview of the theoretical principles of metal Binder Jetting. The following thematic priorities are set:

• Introduction to Additive Manufacturing and the Metal Binder Jetting Market
• Process principle
• Material properties and process parameters
• Calculation of manufacturing cost
• Component design suitable for production

The latter is complemented by an interactive design session in which the participants design their first metal binder jetting component themselves.

“By experiencing the manufacturing process hands-on, the participants have the unique opportunity to put what they have learned directly into practice and thus better assess the potential of the technology for their company,” says Dr. Philipp Imgrund (Head of the AM Processes Department, Fraunhofer IAPT).

Gathering practical experience is the focus of the second day of the training, in which the participants, together with the experts from Fraunhofer IAPT, go through the entire process chain of metal Binder Jetting in the pilot plant of the Fraunhofer facility. This includes:

• Data preparation
• Set up the 3D printer and start the printing process
• De-powdering of printed components
• Debinding and sintering of de-powdered components

This training is therefore the perfect introduction to getting to know the actual potential and the limits of metal Binder Jetting and being able to evaluate it accordingly in the company context!

Source: Fraunhofer IAPT