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Photo collage of laser metal deposition and LM processes

Additive manufacturing

Components, no matter what shape they have. Prototypes, unique items, and small and large series. Additive manufacturing is shaping the future of the manufacturing industry like hardly any other process. Additive manufacturing and/or laser sintering or laser melting can be used to manufacture, coat or repair components with extremely high material requirements. Compared with traditional, ablative manufacturing methods such as turning or milling, in additive manufacturing the design determines manufacturing. This is why it is referred to as "design for additive manufacturing" (DfAM).

TRUMPF has brought two additive manufacturing laser processes to industrial maturity in the last 20 years which can be used to create complex shapes and individual metal components layer-by-layer from metal powder quickly, flexibly and cheaply: laser metal fusion and laser metal deposition. As a pioneer in additive manufacturing methods, TRUMPF provides complete solutions with machines, beam sources and services – all of which they have developed and produced themselves. This provides a clear competitive advantage to customers.

Flexible

In additive manufacturing, there are no limits when it comes to design – even functions that are not feasible with conventional manufacturing methods can be integrated or complete assemblies can be constructed in one go.

Sustainable

The desired components and shapes are created precisely using only the material that is actually required with additive manufacturing.

Customisable

Customised solutions and personalised components can be realised easily and flexibly using additive manufacturing – even in series production.

Tool free

Since no tools are required for additive manufacturing, you can work more cost effectively and reduce both wear and setup times.

Efficient

The high level of stability of complex structures and low weight of additively manufactured components make the process particularly attractive for lightweight design.

"Additive technology remains an exciting challenge and success is not always ensured straight away. At the start, we needed to completely rethink the design, make numerous tests and do a lot of persuading within our own company. By leading in know-how in this field, we are now playing a pioneering role within our industry."

Klaus Eimann
Group leader for the additive manufacturing method, Procter & Gamble

Which application examples are there for additive manufacturing?

  • Creation of a personalised cranial implant or construction of dental crowns and bridges (LMF)
  • Additive manufacturing of heat exchangers with extremely fine lattice structures (LMF)
  • Coating of a maize chopper in order to improve the service life (LMD)
  • Repair of a compressor blade after wear (LMD)

How are the additive manufacturing processes different?

An increasing number of variants, increasingly small lot sizes – the trend in many manufacturing industries is clear. Laser metal fusion (LMF) and laser metal deposition (LMD) are the two laser-based processes that take on these challenges and make additive manufacturing more and more attractive for industrial use. However, how are the processes different technically and which technology is precisely suited to which fields of application?

Laser metal fusion (LMF)

In this process, the laser creates new workpieces layer-by-layer out of powder; these workpieces are very stable while still being light. The metal component can be created from a powder bed based on a CAD model. Laser metal fusion has now been developed to an extent that it can be used to produce complex metal components in series.

Laserauftragschweißen
Laser metal deposition (LMD)

In this process, the laser generates a weld pool on the component surface. A metal filler material is then continuously added and melted on in this pool. In this manner, beads that are welded to one another are created, which then form structures on existing base bodies for repairs or coating, or form entire components. In the field of LMD, "high-speed laser metal deposition welding" (HS-LMD), which TRUMPF helped to develop, can also coat surfaces very quickly and extremely thinly.

We would be pleased to advise you

Our additive manufacturing experts will be happy to advise you. 

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Additive Manufacturing Showroom

The Additive Manufacturing Showroom on the TRUMPF Campus in Ditzingen, Germany, offers a live insight into additive manufacturing using laser metal fusion and laser metal deposition, as well as clear industry applications and success stories from our customers – with direct advice from our experts included.

TruLaser Cell 3000
TruLaser Cell 3000

Compact and highly accurate: With the TruLaser Cell 3000 5-axis laser processing machine you can cut and weld in two or three dimensions.

Allow the sample parts to serve as inspiration for your projects!

Are you seeking recommendations for parts that can be manufactured efficiently using TRUMPF machine tools and laser systems? Browse through our selection of sample parts filtered via various parameters such as industries and materials.

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