PAM^2 — Precision Additive Metal Manufacturing

Results in brief

Precision Additive Metal Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM) has many advantages, such as a high level of design freedom, efficient material use and the capability to produce personalized parts. However, several challenges remain for the adoption of AM, such as limited precision due to shrinkage, built-in stresses and dross formation at overhangs and a limited process stability and robustness. Post-processing is often needed due to high surface texture and remaining defects. Precision Additive Metal Manufacturing (PAM²), is an MSCA project with 10 beneficiaries and 2 partners collaborating on improving the precision of metal AM at each process step going from design to validation. A laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) process is used. The overall objective of PAM² is to ensure the availability of high-precision AM processes and design procedures. Detailed objectives are: 1. to develop advanced design tools enabling competitive designs, better use of AM potential against minimal design costs and reduced time-to-market; 2. to develop better modelling tools for first-time-right processing; 3. to optimize LPBF process strategies for improved part precision and feature accuracy; 4. to understand the link between post-process metrology and in-process observations, creating the basis for in-process quality control and process stability; 5. to develop innovative in-process and post-process techniques to reduce surface texture, porosity and internal stresses and to improve dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties. The personnel challenges of AM are also addressed by providing training to young researchers through innovative and interconnected research projects, combined with intersectoral secondments and network-wide training events.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a fast−growing sector with the ability to evoke a revolution in manufacturing due to its almost unlimited design freedom and its capability to produce personalised parts locally and with efficient material use. AM companies however still face technological challenges such as limited precision due to shrinkage and build−in stresses and limited process stability and robustness. Moreover often post−processing is needed due to the high roughness and remaining porosity. In addition qualified, trained personnel is hard to find. This ITN project will address both the technological and people challenges.To quality assure the parts produced, PAM² will, through a close collaboration between industry and academia, address each of the various process stages of AM with a view to implementing good precision engineering practice.To ensure the availability of trained personnel, ESRs will, next to their individual research and complementary skills training, be immersed in the whole AM production chain through hands−on workshops where they will design, model, fabricate, measure and assess a specific product.The expected impact of PAM² thus is:1. The availability of intersectoral and interdisciplinary trained professionals in an industrial field that's very important for the future of Europe, both enhancing the ESR future career perspectives and advancing European industry.2. The availability of high precision AM processes through improved layout rules with better use of AM possibilities, better modelling tools for first−time right processing, possibility for in−situ quality control ensuring process stability and, if still needed, optimised post−processing routes3. As a result of 1: an increased market acceptance and penetration of AM.4. Through the early involvement of European industry: a growing importance of the European industrial players in this fast−growing field. This will help Europe reach its target of 20% manufacturing share of GDP.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LeuvenCoordinatorBelgium
ALICONA IMAGING GMBH · RaabaAustria
ASML NETHERLANDS B.V. · VeldhovenNetherlands
DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET · Kongens LyngbyDenmark
KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE · KarlsruheGermany
LAYERWISE · LEUVEN HEVERLEEBelgium
LEGO SYSTEM AS · BillundDenmark
MAGMA GIESSEREITECHNOLOGIE GMBH · AACHENGermany
NUOVO PIGNONE SRL · FirenzeItaly
NUOVO PIGNONE TECNOLOGIE SRL · FirenzeItaly
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT · DelftNetherlands
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM · NottinghamUnited Kingdom
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA · PadovaItaly

PAM^2 · Precision Additive Metal Manufacturing

Results in brief

Precision Additive Metal Manufacturing

Project objective

Participants

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