SLM Solutions, the leading provider of metal additive manufacturing technology, announced a game-changing collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to scale up additive manufacturing industrialization. This collaboration is poised to transform the metal additive manufacturing industry by creating new outstanding parameters for SLM® machines and the NXG XII 600.
DTI is developing faster process parameters for stainless steel 316L and copper alloy CuCr1Zr with their recently acquired SLM®280 2.0 to support cost-effective production, leveraging SLM Solutions’ importance of open architecture. The collaboration on material development will open up new applications for advanced components where electrical and thermal conductivity are critical, and sturdy components made of stainless steel can be manufactured with lightning-fast processes.
Partnership with Danish Technological Institute
Danish Technological Institute (DTI) is a leading research and technology institute with over 30 years of additive manufacturing experience. Their modern Aarhus facilities offer 3D-printed components in a variety of metal and polymer materials, utilising a wide range of additive manufacturing technologies to tailor a solution that perfectly fits the needs of the customers.
DTI and SLM Solutions’ collaboration is the logical next step in their long-term relationship.
“The collaboration with SLM Solutions is extremely interesting for us. With SLM Solutions’ expertise in special alloys for additive manufacturing, this collaboration gives us a unique insight into future possibilities.”
– Ellen M. J. Hedegaard, Business Manager at DTI
The advancement enables the copper alloy CuCr1Zr to be printed in varying layer thicknesses, opening up new business opportunities for AM in advanced components requiring electrical and thermal conductivity. CuCr1Zr retains very high electrical conductivities at up to 300 MPa ultimate tensile strength despite having up to 92% IACS after heat treatment.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with DTI on high-productivity solutions for 316L and CuCr1Zr. DTI will follow the SLM Solutions standards of material development and qualification, enabling us to provide material parameters of the same high quality as any other new SLM® material parameter.”
– Christoph Wangenheim, Head of Additive Material Products & Development at SLM Solutions
The stainless steel 316L offered by SLM Solutions, on the other hand, is an austenitic high-chromium steel with excellent processability on SLM Solutions’ additive manufacturing machines. 316L is frequently used in applications that require good mechanical properties as well as excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in chloride environments. DTI will develop faster process parameters for stainless steel 316L, allowing for the printing of components at a lower cost.
SLM Solutions and DTI’s groundbreaking collaboration will significantly advance industrialization and the use of metal-based additive manufacturing. The manufacturing industry will have a front-row seat to the future of additive manufacturing.
About Danish Technological Institute: The Danish Technological Institute (DTI) is a leading research and technology institute with over 1,000 specialists who assist over 10,000 customers from 65 countries each year. DTI takes pride in being a multi-disciplinary institute that approaches challenges in an innovative manner, drawing on their various specialties to find the best-suited solution.
