Large-scale 3D printing facility

FAQ

• How does the large-scale 3D printing facility work?
  The facility is built on a three meter long lathe that can handle items weighing up to four tons with a maximum diameter of 1,000 millimeters.
  
  The lathe works with a rail-mounted six-axis industrial robot that guides the process head. This means that you can print, weld, hybrid print, surface coat or repair in one facility.
  
  Furthermore, the robot installation is built so that items that do not fit the conventional set-up can be placed in a 6 meter long working zone next to it, so the robot can turn around and work.
  
  For additive manufacturing (AM) production tasks, a special round table can handle items up to 1.5 tonnes and a volume equal to one cubic meter, even at 90 degrees inclination and an offset center of mass.
• Which materials can be used in 3D printing?
  Generally, you can print with all weldable materials. Eg. AISI 316L, aluminum, Inconel 625.
• Can materials be combined?
  Yes, in a printing process the materials can be mixed directly during construction or material can be changed along the way.
• Is it not difficult or inconvenient to change material?

  No, switching materials is both easy and fast.

  The material is fed from a container, so if need be, another container can replace it, depending on the needs.

• Is the quality of your 3D print good?
  We can guarantee the quality of our 3D printing. For example, we have documented satisfactory quality when printing components for the aviation industry, where the requirements for durability and resilience are very high.
• Is the product finished immediately after the printing process?

  Whether the product is finished immediately after the printing process depends largely on the specific application. Typically, HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing), heat treatment or finishing will be relevant to the assessment.

• Are large scale printing associated with very high costs?
  No, often significant savings in materials and time can be found by switching to 3D printing.
  
  3D printing can be significantly cheaper, as it releases storage value, transport is reduced and it can be faster than conventional methods.
  
  All in all, this points towards a shorter lead time at a lower cost.