ALM System Enables Aerospace Materials Development

A fourth EOS M 270 additive layer manufacturing (ALM) machine has been installed by Materials Solutions at its new facility in Worcester, UK. The increase in capacity enables process and materials development to continue alongside increased levels of early-stage manufacture of aerospace parts. Metals used include nickel alloys such as C263, Inconel 718, Inconel 625 and Hastelloy X, as well as cobalt chrome and 316, 17-4 and 15-5 stainless steels.

Functioning parts are built from manipulated 3D CAD files in the M 270 machines using a 200W ytterbium laser to selectively solidify layers of metal powder, 20 microns at a time, in a 24/7 lights-out process. The parts are then heat treated, finished and supplied to drawing, with further special processes subcontracted to the aerospace supply chain in the UK. The unmelted metal powder is reused, reducing waste and improving the buy-to-fly ratio.

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