Additive Manufacturing of Intricate Structures in Commercially Pure Copper

Pure copper is a highly desirable material for heat exchangers and electrical components due to its excellent thermal and electrical properties. While these properties are beneficial for the application, they also turn the process of using copper in additive manufacturing into a challenge. Here, Kenneth Nai, Principal Engineer at Renishaw, explores how to overcome this issue and use additive manufacturing to produce fine complex copper structures for heat exchangers.

 Challenge

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a breakthrough technology that is transforming the manufacturing industry. This digitally driven process gives engineers the design freedom to create and manufacture parts with complex structures that would never have been possible with traditional machining.

Traditionally, heat exchangers are made from thin sheets of material that are welded together. The complex geometry of heat exchanger designs make production challenging and time-consuming. AM systems build parts layer-by-layer, only adding material where needed, to produce lightweight yet complex components, making this process attractive for manufacturing heat exchangers.