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The 3D printing process has succeeded in the last few years, thanks to the development of fibre resources and a greater focus precision of the laser beam. But this is a complex process in repeatability that still needs more studies and improvement to overcome the lack of standards.
30
years of this technology
1983
first invention in AM
2
cartridges changed/year
Over a century of experience in the various production processes at the service of additive manufacturing.
The influence of gases in the metal additive manufacturing process.
3D printing processes can be of different types: PBF, EBM, DED, FDM, and the most recent one WAAM. There are also many different metals, often noble ones, that can also be processed, reason why this is an expensive process.
All these different processes have a common characteristic, which is to protect the manufactured product from oxidisation during construction and heat treatment phases.
All these different processes have a common characteristic, which is to protect the manufactured product from oxidisation during construction and heat treatment phases.
So, to preserve the metallurgical characteristics of the metal powder essential to obtain the finished product, it is important to use high-quality gas.
Oxygen and moisture, 3D printing enemies
In this process, oxygen is a pollutant, therefore it must be erased from the equation. Moisture too, has negative effects on this process, sometimes its presence is even more harmful than oxygen.
Nippon Gases R&D centres carried out some studies showing how these two pollutants cause imperfections in the metallurgical structure of products manufactured with the 3D printing process. Thanks to these studies, it was also possible to understand that the presence of both pollutants inside the chamber is directly proportional to the number of defects in the product. Our company has developed the 3DPro® Purifier, which drastically reduces having defective products due to oxygen and moisture presence. By eliminating these two parameters, the process can be stable and standard.
Testing
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At Nippon Gases we are called "The Gas Professionals" for a reason, give us a call as we are always here to help with solutions.