Due to a collaboration with Proto Precision Manufacturing Solutions and GE Additive, The Ohio State University's Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) has added state-of-the-art industrial metal printers to its additive manufacturing (AM) laboratory.
Led by engineering alumnus Sugu Suguness, Proto Precision has placed two recently purchased GE Additive machines at CDME, located on Ohio State's west campus in Columbus. The industrial-grade Arcam Q10+ and Concept Laser metal printers are capable of printing nickel alloys, titanium and steel using laser and electron beams, respectively, and are the most recent additions to CDME's growing AM capabilities. Two additional GE Additive machines are operating at Proto Precision's facility in nearby Hilliard.
"Partnering with GE Additive and CDME allows us to come together to accelerate the growth in the central Ohio additive ecosystem, empowering us to meet the needs of a growing customer base," shared Suguness. "Industry demands are trending towards titanium implants for medical, and lightweight metal parts and quicker production for automobile and aerospace."
The printers are part of GE Additive's latest product portfolio. The Arcam Q10+ prints titanium, which can be used for medical implants and aerospace parts. The Concept Laser prints titanium and nickel alloy parts often used in the automotive and aerospace industries. CDME also recently added an ExOne printer, which uses a binder jetting interface with metal powder. The ability to print using laser, electron beam and binder jetting within one university lab is highly unique according to Ed Herderick, Director of Additive Manufacturing at CDME. "Now Ohio State faculty has another valuable option in translating its research to prototype and testing modes," he explained. "And small businesses and manufacturers can quickly integrate high-end metal printing capability into their operation folds by partnering with us."
"CDME is the place where we bring together industry with our world-leading research enterprise. Uniting an innovative small business like Proto Precision with GE Additive and Ohio State faculty, staff and students is a perfect example of our work to address the biggest challenges in manufacturing," said Dr. David B. Williams, Dean of the College of Engineering, The Ohio State University.
The Wohlers Report 2018 estimates 1,768 metal AM systems were sold in 2017, compared to 983 systems in 2016, an increase of nearly 80%. Globally, more manufacturers are appreciating the benefits of producing metal parts using AM.
CDME's additive manufacturing laboratory now includes:
- Concept Laser (nickel alloys, steels, aluminum, cobalt chrome)
- Arcam Q10+ (titanium alloys)
- ExOne (steels, magnesium alloys, nickel alloys)
- ProJet 660Pro (ceramics, including alumina, YSZ)
- ProJet 3500 HD Max (ABS-like cured photopolymers)
- FormLab Form 2 (resin)
- Mcor IRIS HD (paper)
- Afinia H800 (ABS, PLA, PC-ABS)
- Afinia H400 (ABS, PLA, PC-ABS)
- Stratasys (ABS, PLA, ACA, PC-ABS)
- Mark Forged 2 (nylon, nylon carbon fiber).
For more information contact:
The Ohio State University
Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence
1314 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH 43212
614-292-4965
www.cdme.osu.edu