Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Metallic materials

Metallic Materials

Metallic Materials - Powder Technology

Laser beam melting is a direct manufacturing process in which the desired parts are produced in a single-stage process in metallic series material. After completion of the laser beam melting process, the components can only be freed from unmelted powder material and - depending on the component geometry and orientation of the components in the installation space - from any supporting structures. The range of materials that can be processed includes stainless and tool steel, aluminum, titanium, cobalt-chrome or nickel-based alloys. On request, the development and qualification of further material systems according to customer requirements is also possible.

PROCESSABLE MATERIALS  
Tool steel (1,2709) for the production of tool and mold components as well as highly stressed components
Stainless steel (1.4414) for the production of acid and rust-resistant components or tool components for pre-series tools
Titanium (TiAl6V4) for the manufacture of lightweight components, e.g. for aerospace applications, and medical technology applications, e.g. implants
Aluminium (AlSi10Mg, AlSi12) Powder material that can be used under high mechanical and dynamic loads and is therefore ideally suited for the construction of technical prototypes or small series made of aluminum
Nickel-base alloy (IN718) for the manufacture of heat-resistant components in the power generation and aerospace industries
Cobalt chrome for the production of dental prostheses and medical implants

Our services

Powder Technology

Powdery materials are the starting material for the manufacture of an extremely diverse range of technical products and consumer goods.

The institutes of the competence field develop technologies and process chains for the production, modification and processing of powders into complex components. The work is aimed in particular at the cost-effective integration of functions in components and structures. The solutions are used in many industries.

Three-dimensional printing technology (3D printing) for metallic materials

This approach to extend 3D printing technology to the metal sector has not yet established itself on the market. Nevertheless, niche applications are conceivable, in which the advantages of 3D printing can be applied profitably - in particular the possibility of doing without supporting structures. In addition, 3D printing can still be of interest where, for example, special materials cannot yet be processed using the laser melting process.

Laser Beam Melting

The production of metallic components using laser beam melting technology enables the institutes of the competence field to show their industrial partners new ways in the development and production of innovative components. Laser beam melting technology belongs to the group of additive manufacturing processes. The components are built up ("generated") in layers directly based on
3D CAD data from powdery serial materials. The powder is completely melted locally by a laser and after solidification; the dense structure lays by 99.5 to 100 percent. Due to the layered, tool-free structure of the components, this process offers almost unlimited design and constructional freedom. Thus enables the production of any complex geometries and structures from metallic materials. The applications of laser beam melting are manifold, from the manufacture of original and forming tools with near-contour cooling channels to the production of highly complex and highly stressed components and the manufacture of patient-specific implants.