Following a four-year COVID-imposed absence, theInternational Manufacturing Technology Show(IMTS) has returned, with a much more 3D printing-heavy line-up than before.
Usually held every two years, IMTS isn’t just about 3D printing, it sees manufacturers that specialize in processes ranging from CNC machining to injection molding meet to share best practice, unveil new products and identify cross-industry trends.
That said, this year’s show features 83 3D printing exhibitors, more than twice the amount that took part in 2018, and many more are showcasing related software, services, scanning and measurement products at their booths. With this in mind, 3D Printing Industry is on the scene in Chicago all week, to help readers keep up with goings-on at IMTS, and cover the biggest stories live from the show floor.
A metal 3D printing extravaganza
那些参加IMTS主舞台早期的人很可能错过了该活动最重要的发布会之一，HP Metal Jet S100 3D printer在开幕主题演讲中被揭幕。430 x 309 x 200毫米旨在与金属注塑成型（MIM）材料一起使用，在麦考密克广场的西部大楼中引入了大量观众。
When asked about the benefits of this at the launch, Tim Weber, the man put in charge of developing Metal Jet back in 2018, said it enabled the creation of “20-40 times cheaper” parts than injection molded equivalents.
On the subject of the machine’s stainless steel 316L and 17-4PH compatibility, Weber added that HP is currently qualifying more materials, thus these only represent its launch offering. Following its unveiling, the firm has confirmed that its much-anticipated system is now available to order in Western Europe, the US and China, with would-be adopters encouraged to reach out.
在展览会上的其他地方，Desktop Metalwas live-demoing itsFigur G15 3D printer整天。新型的数字钣金成型机具有软件驱动的陶瓷工具头，可将零件的尺寸上升到1600 x 1200毫米，其拉动深度高达400毫米。
What’s more, the system does so without needing dies, tools or molds, in a way that could yield savings for manufacturers across sectors, with the firm displaying consumer, automotive and architectural parts at its booth.
“The whole idea is eliminating all the tooling that you normally need to create complex 3D sheet metal parts,” explained Figur Founder Justin Nardone. “The dies that this is replacing, if you were to make them as one-off, would cost you 10-20 grand. The whole machine is just under a half-million dollars, and with it, you could print some parts that cost even more.”
On the subject of tooling,Mantle首次亮相P-200 3D打印机和F-200炉at this year’s IMTS, which in tandem, are designed to enable the production of metal tool molds. While the systems themselves were absent from its booth, the firm’s team explained that the P-200 works by depositing metal pastes layer-by-layer into molds, before machining these into parts with very high tolerances.
在这种情况下，Mantle合作伙伴市场经理Hannah Coombs威斯敏斯特的工具, explained that it had a glass-filled material developer approach it over medical device R&D. While the client could have used aluminum, she said “it just wouldn’t have had the rigidity” for this use-case, whereas using Mantle printing allowed them to develop a final product in just three weeks.
Lastly, on the metal 3D printing front,Xact Metalwas exhibiting just a week after unveiling theXM300G Series 3D printer。Fitted with a larger 300 x 300 x 350 mm build volume than its predecessors, and configurable with up to six lasers, the system could provide the firm’s traditional education and research user base with room to expand into new, larger or higher throughput applications.
Unfortunately, like the Mantle P-200, the Xact Metal XM300G wasn’t on display at the show. However, the Xact Metal team did reveal that their machine is currently with beta customers, ahead of a projected 2023 launch.
Application-driven material R&D
One of the early initial trends to pop-up on the showfloor was the qualification of 3D printing materials to address the very specific applications of clients. Alongside its new图4艰难的清晰andDuraform Pax黑色材料，3D Systems展示Certified CuNi30 (A)。专门为满足的需求而开发纽波特新闻, the low-conductive copper alloy features high strength and ductility, as well as low corrosion against sea water.
With the material proving ideal for theHuntington Ingallsdivision’s maritime-focused business, 3D Systems is now aiming to make it available to general customers in Q4 2022, in a move that could drive oil and gas demand.
According to Joe Dopkowski, an Application Engineer at 3D Systems, the alloy could be ideal for maritime clients with a failed fitting that “need a quick, easy replacement which still has corrosion-resistant properties.” Dopkowski added that he continues to weigh up demand for the material at oil and gas events as well, but as there “aren’t any regulations” for 3D printing such parts, potential customers are saying “they don’t know what the implications are.”
另一个台式金属子公司，ETEC, also announced the validation of new materials for itsXtreme 8k3D printerin the run-up to IMTS, in the form of twoHenkel Loctite resins。Using one of these, the newly-qualifiedLoctite 3D IND405 HDT50ETEC高级产品开发商Kial Gramley解释了用户如何更好地实现“世界上最大的DLP 3D打印机”的潜力。
“This is a polypropylene-like material, It’s one of Henkel Loctite’s best-selling,” said Gramley. “The only difference now is it’s available with much larger parts. So now you can bring in bigger parts, you can print bigger batch sizes, you can create with higher throughputs and that is probably the main difference and benefit.”
新兴的环保趋势？
在活动的第一天，该行业的另一种新兴趋势也很清楚，可以在展厅中看到：有助于可持续性的3D打印。在IMT之前，6K Additiveannounced that it had struck a deal to supplyIncodema3D与通过其生产的材料UniMelt plasma microwave powder productionsystem. Using the resulting alloys, Incodema3D’s Director of Business Development James Hockey, revealed its plans to address some high-profile clientele.
“航空航天和国防是我们工作,6 k partner of ours… and we’re looking at the entire lifecycle of powder, and the reclamation of scrap,” said Hockey. “We’re focused on giving that to our customers, giving the Lockheed Martins, the Northrops and the Raytheons that opportunity to keep things as green as possible, and to pass those savings on.”
German 3D printer OEMEOS同时，在其展位中间显示了线性核融合反应器的模型。目前是由TAE Technologies, the reactor in question is set to be built with thermally-regulating EOS-printed parts that help optimize its performance and power output. With the initial system expected to be functional by early-2023, the firm is already planning to run a new, zero-waste version by 2050.
在展位上，EOS高级应用程序开发商Spencer Thompson解释说，他代表EOS（包括氢，碳捕获和核融合）“对可持续技术的支柱进行了大量研究”。
Given that in each one of these technologies, “thermal management is the common thread,” Thompson added that he anticipates “higher [sustainable] power demands and more extreme environments” will see “additive [manufacturing] kind of ‘slide right in’ as the [manufacturing] technology that you have to use.”
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Featured image shows the staircase at the entrance to McCormick Place, home of IMTS 2022. Photo by Paul Hanaphy.
