Additive Manufacturing of Complex Products Requires Precise Processing Furnaces with Interactive Capabilities.
Abstract. Additive manufacturing (AM), which includes 3-D printing, refers to a high growth manufacture technology that is gaining acceptance through its unique capabilities, such as producing intricate internal geometries that conventional manufacturing methods are more complex and expensive to produce. However, this manufacture advantage is countered by part size capability, throughput production rates and requirements for advanced furnaces that can interact with AM equipment (e.g., inert automated passthroughs and transfer mechanism to move parts into the furnace while under inert atmosphere gases to eliminate introduction of oxygen). These options can offset shortcomings and increase capabilities of AM applications to customize, lower-volumes, and justify the production of high value, performance and quality products. While concepts exist for manufacture complex high-performance products (e.g., “aerospace thrusters, ultra-lite aerospace structural components”), most functionality of such products are transitioning to AM from traditional manufacturing technologies. Our presentation will illustrate the challenges and opportunities for improving AM production applications and integrating advanced heat-treating capabilities.