Renishaw is collaborating with Sandvik Additive Manufacturing to qualify new additive manufacturing (AM) materials for production applications. This encompasses a range of metal powders, including new alloy compositions that are optimized for the laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) process and which provide superior material properties.

Sandvik has one of the widest alloys program for additive manufacturing on the market and has worked with Renishaw AM systems since 2018 at its Additive Manufacturing Division. During this time, the two companies have worked together to develop process parameters for a range of Sandvik metal powders, including stainless and maraging steels, and the latest Osprey nickel-based superalloys. Sandvik recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art titanium atomiser and powder processing facility and will now turn its focus to qualifying these alloys for industrial and medical applications.

Optimizing process parameter development work has highlighted opportunities to make small but important changes to the composition of Sandvik alloys, while remaining within the relevant ASTM specification, to optimize the mechanical properties of LPBF components. Examples of this include a maraging steel with enhanced strength and hardness, and a crack-free Osprey HX nickel superalloy.

“Much of the innovation in AM in the next few years will come from the pairing of enhanced machine performance with improved alloys,” explained Stephen Crownshaw, AM Business Manager at Renishaw. “Better alloys mean better material properties, enabling AM components that are more efficient and cost-effective.”

As well as qualifying materials for sale to other manufacturers, Sandvik Additive Manufacturing has developed a range of additive production applications.

Sandvik Additive Manufacturing
www.additive.sandvik

Renishaw
www.renishaw.com/additive