3D printing process metals
Fascination, requirements, fields of application
With the SLM 3D printing process, 3D-printed metal components can be created directly from a computer model. DMLS stands for “Direct Metal Laser Melting” and is a powder bed-based additive manufacturing process. A metal alloy (metal material) in powder form is used as the 3D printing material and melted using a laser beam.
A thin layer of this metal powder is applied to the build plate in the 3D printer. A powerful laser then melts the powder precisely at the points specified by the CAD software. In this way, a layer of the 3D-printed metal part is created. The process is repeated until the component is completely printed.
The LPBF technology used by FKM is based on the principle of laser melting or selective laser melting. This makes laser powder bed fusion technology one of the world’s leading and most reliable 3D printing processes in the field of metal-based additive manufacturing. This high-end technology is used for the series production of industrial metal components and is used in many industries.
The most important areas of application for SLM are aerospace, automotive, medical, toolmaking and turbomachinery.
FKM is a leading service provider for industrial metal 3D printing services and has been relying on the advantages of SLM for almost three decades.
With SLM technology, prototypes can already be produced in the early development phase of a 3D-printed product. This leads to faster product design development and market launch. Metal 3D printers also open up new possibilities for the mass production of industrial 3D-printed components.
SLM enables tailor-made solutions for every special requirement for additively manufactured metal parts. The design can be easily adapted at any time using the 3D data from the CAD software. This means that products can be manufactured in a very short period of time.
SLM is used where conventional technologies reach their limits. With industrial metal 3D printing, production is based on the design and not the other way around. This gives great scope for design and allows individual designs to be created.
Metal 3D printing enables the design of highly complex structures that are very difficult or impossible to create using conventional technologies. Metal components from an SLM 3D printer are very light and particularly stable. This allows functional optimization and integration without additional assembly steps.
