| Humans have found many ways to shape metals - casting, stamping, drilling and milling surfaces in machine shops, even cutting them with lasers. Now you can add a new method: 3D printing. Many companies offer metal 3D printing, Products and components are created layer by layer through a computerized control system. On Monday, HP announced its entry into the market with the goal of significantly lowering prices through a $400,000 product called Metal Jet. Tim Weber, head of HP's 3D metal printing, said: 'We really do mass production for mainstream metals, especially steel.' HP has partnered with experienced metal manufacturing partners, including Volkswagen and Johnson & Johnson. The customer has signed the agreement. So, if the gear or suspension link portion of your next generation car is built by this new digital manufacturing method, then don't be surprised. McKinsey & Company believes the technology is promising. 3D printing is only a small part of the metal industry, but it is growing rapidly, and it is expected that the value of this market will reach $10 billion by 2030-2035, which we expect is currently low. The scale test will shift to a wider range of industrial applications in the next five to ten years.' Each HP Metal Jet 3D printer is a heavy-duty cabinet-sized machine at a price of less than $400,000. 3D printing allows users to precisely design products using a variety of materials, such as very durable metal on gear teeth, but in More flexible products are used inside the gear to make it quieter. 3D printing can also be faster, combining multiple components and reducing metal waste. HP's Metal Jet first lays a thin layer of powdered metal on the bottom layer. The printhead then passes through the layer, spraying tiny adhesives - essentially glue - requiring solid metal. When the layer is finished, laying new Powder layer, then another layer of adhesive. Using the printer's full size 430x320x200 mm (approximately 17x13x8 inches) It takes about four to five hours to create a product or product group. After printing is complete, the parts are removed and the unused powder is separated for reuse. Then, these parts undergo a heating operation called sintering, which fuses the powder into a solid block.   |
