ETMM-online

High-Performance Metals Developed for DMLS Processing

 

Source: ETMM Online

 

A nickel-based heat resistant alloy that is very strong, corrosion resistant, and can be used at temperatures between -422°F and 1300°F has recently been released by a German specialist in custom prototypes and low-volume production parts.

Inconel 718 and Maraging Steel 1.2709 will expand Protolabs’ list of Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) materials that make up a wide range of metals available for rapid prototyping and the manufacture of functional end-use parts with complex geometries.

The high-temperature strength of Inconel 718 is derived from its ability to create a thick, stable passivating oxide layer at high temperatures, protecting the material from further attack. Inconel, which has good tensile, fatigue, creep and rupture strength, is thus ideal for the aerospace and heavy industries–particularly, in the production of jet engines, rocket engine components, gas turbine parts, instrumentation parts, power and process parts and related equipment that are exposed to extreme environments.

 

Photo credit/caption: Protolabs/Inconel 718 is a superalloy used in the development of turbojet engines for aircraft, among a variety of other applications.

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Heat Treating Mold Base Materials for Optimal Conditions

 

Source: ETMM-online

 

Heat treating plays a critical role in the making of a mold base, notes an Austrian manufacturer of standard parts for mould bases and die sets in a recent process prHigh-precision mould bases from stress relieved high-grade steel.ofile in ETMM-online.

An excerpt:

"Heat-treat[ing] all steel plates for stress relief . . . at approximately 580°C [1076°F] for 24 hours . . . creates optimal conditions for low-deformation processing of parts. . . . With stress-relieving heat treatment, the tension in the material is minimized without changes to the microstructure or strength. This is a great advantage during subsequent machining. If there was still tension in the material, it would, for example, cause deformation during sawing or milling. During stress-relieving, it is important to heat the plates slowly and consistently and then maintain this temperature for six hours."

Read more: "Producing the Ideal Material for Making a Mould Base"

 

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