Additive research continues to develop new methods to make parts by adding, rather than subtracting, material. The latest example is GEFERTEC GmbH and its 3DMP technology.

3DMP enables the cost-efficient and fast production of near-net-shape metal parts. Quality of the parts is comparable to standard manufacturing methods. The 3DMP technology is based on proven electric arc welding. It’s using wire as original material, so the final part is formed welding layer by welding lay-er. This method offers a range of advantages,. For example, there is no elaborate powder handling, and most standard materials are available as wire at lower prices. The main benefit is the high production speed, which can be up to 600 cm3 per hour depending on the material.

3DMP is ready to use in the GTarc Machine, which is available as a 3-axis version for parts up to 3 m3 and as a 5-axis version for parts up to 0.8 m³. These characteristics show that the machining center is suited for the production of complex and larger parts made of steel, nickel, titani-um, or aluminum. Customers using the new GTarc include: The FIT Group, a leading expert in Additive Design & Manufacturing, which offers rapid prototyping and Siemens AG in its Digital Factory (DF) division.

3DMP CAM software calculates the data out of the CAD-modeled part, which enables the CNC-control unit to position the welding head precise-ly. The machine produces the near-net-shape part automatically. The finishing of the part is done external by standard CNC milling machine. Compared to other manufacturing methods 3DMP has a maximum ma-terial utilization, which leads to substantial cost savings, especially when expensive materials like titanium are used. Therefore the technology is promising for applications in the aerospace industry as for various other branches. Depending on the application, manufacturing costs decrease up to 60%. The GTarc machine is built in a modular way, making future upgrades easy.

GEFERTEC GmbH
www.gefertec.de