FIT Additive Manufacturing Group is to participate in a joint research project which will examine welding processes for selective laser sintering (SLS) and injection moulded parts.
The project, titled ‘FAB-WELD’, has been backed by a €285,400 Bavarian State Minister of Science grant. Combining the efforts of FIT AG’s Sintermask subsidiary, BMW and the FAU University of Erlangen-Nuremberg’s Institute of Polymer Technology (LKT), the project will work towards optimising the welding process for printed parts to create individualised series components.
Running over three years, FAB-WELD wants to identify a feasible solution to get around the limitations in the size of 3D printed parts by assessing the performance of different welding processes. To join SLS parts with injection moulded parts, or SLS parts with other SLS parts, and form larger structures, a high-strength, impermeable connection is required. In such instances, 3D printing would have likely been the preferred manufacturing option to save on moulding costs or take advantage of greater design flexibility.
The partners will embark on a project which will explore vibration welding and infrared welding to see which is more suitable to facilitate the additive manufacture of large-format SLS assemblies.
FIT will harness its SLS expertise to print a series of sample parts which will be welded together using bielomatik welding machines, while the mechanical properties and behaviour of the components will be analysed with GOM measurement and CT scanning technologies.
“We simply don’t have any intelligence about high-strength welding of SLS parts, so this is a great opportunity to investigate very basically the processes of welding SLS parts,” commented Christian Wiesner, who is responsible for FIT AG’s FAB-WELD efforts. “The findings will be a significant benefit for the further development of AM regarding SLS technology.”
