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Sterlings is now considered the primary contact for all ARCAM services from SMU. |
| I am pleased to inform you that Southern Methodist University Research Center for Advanced Manufacturing (“RCAM”) has placed an order for the newest electron beam-based rapid manufacturing/prototyping machine, A2, manufactured by ARCAM AB, Gothenburg, Sweden (“ARCAM”). The machine will be installed in RCAM’s facility by the end of October 2007. This will be the second A2 installed in the country. The first one was installed at the North Carolina State University a few months ago. The operating principle of ARCAM’s Electron Beam Melting process (“EBM”) is similar to the operating principle of the Selective Laser Sintering or Stereo-lithography process. A thin layer of powder is spread across the powder bed to be sintered by a focused electron beam. The layer’s sintering process is done in two steps. First, the top layer of powder is preheated with an electron beam of lower power. Second, the layer of powder is melted with an electron beam of maximum power. Then, a new layer of powder is spread over the just sintered layer in order to continue the building of the 3D structure. Preheating the layer of powder during the structure’s fabrication decreases the effect of residual stresses development in the structure. Currently, the electron beam of 3.5 kW in power is used as a heat source. The entire process is performed in a vacuum chamber (www.arcam.com). In May 2007, ARCAM launched a new machine, A2, which has two interchangeable working chambers. The build envelop of the higher chamber is 7.87 x 7.87 x 13.78 in. The wider chamber is in the form of a cylinder with a diameter of 11.81 in. and height of 7.87 in. This new machine has a number of improvements with respect to the older version, such as: 75% larger built components, better heat model, better beam quality control and new software. The positioning accuracy of the electron beam has been improved from +/- 0.050 mm to +/-0.025 mm. These improvements will provide new opportunities in building a family of parts made of different materials. The fully dense parts have been made of Ti6Al4V, commercially pure titanium, supper Ni-alloys, aluminum, tool steel, low alloy steels, Cobalt-chromium alloy, magnesium, and of combinations of metals and ceramics that are of interest to a large number of industries (www.arcam.com). With respect to Laser-beam Direct Metal Deposition, EBM has many advantages such as: higher energy efficiency; applicability on any electrically conductive materials, including highly reflective ones; and higher quality buildups because the process is preformed in a vacuum. EBM can build solid, porous or hybrid structures that have applications in different industries such as aircraft, automotive, marine equipment and aerospace. One of the most promising applications is in building bio-implants such as custom designed orthopedic implants and scaffolds. RCAM and the Center for Laser-aided Manufacturing (CLAM) are also equipped with a number of high power lasers, such as: a IPG fiber laser of 4 kW in power, a Lumonix Nd:YAG laser of 1 kW in power, a NUVONYX fiber coupled laser of 1 kW in power, and a NUVONYX direct diode laser of 2 kW in power, used for rapid manufacturing/repair, cladding, alloying, heat treatment, welding, brazing, and paint stripping. RCAM and CLAM are equipped with a four-axis CNC controlled positioning station integrated with a Spectra Physics HIPPO Q-switched Nd:YVO4 diode pumped laser system. The laser system has four modules with the wavelengths of 1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm, and 266 nm that could be used for micro-machining of different type of materials (plastics, ceramics, metals). By the end of 2007, RCAM and CLAM in cooperation with Synova S.A. from Switzerland will introduce a Laser-Microjet technology for cutting and dicing Si-wafers and gallium arsenide-wafers, as well as for micro-machining of ceramics, solar cells, and stencils. The Laser-Macrojet technology, patented by Synova in 1997, is based on a principle of guiding pulsing laser beam by waterjet. More information on RCAM and CLAM is available at www.engr.smu.edu/rcam and www.engr.smu.edu/clam. Please consider using RCAM’s and CLAM’s facilities and expertise in your future R&D work related to advanced manufacturing and materials. |
| Mölndal, Sweden, April 12, 2007 - Arcam today introduced the Arcam A2, a Rapid Manufacturing system based on Electron Beam Melting, producing solid metal parts larger and faster than other metal additive fabrication methods. Arcam celebrates its 10-year anniversary by launching the Arcam A2 for Rapid Manufacturing in metal, with a significantly increased build capacity. The new Arcam A2 features a choice of two build tanks, enabling the production of 75% larger builds than the present Arcam EBM S12. - This is the most significant new feature, but there are many important enhancements improving performance and productivity, says Ulf Lindhe, Sales and Marketing Manager at Arcam The Arcam A2 was designed for Rapid Manufacturing and is delivered with two build tanks allowing the user to choose between wide and high builds. Depending on build tank selected the build envelope is either 200 x 200 x 350 mm or a diameter of 300 mm with a height of 200 mm. The Arcam A2 features a completely new power supply, enabling improved beam control and a more advanced heat model to increase build speed and precision. A new software is also introduced, with new features such as automatic calibration, for enhanced accuracy. The President of Arcam, Magnus René, is enthusiastic about the new A2. - Arcam has made significant headway last year within the market for Medical Implants where we sold systems for implant manufacturing. The systems are in use for series production of standard implants enhanced with new features that can be realized only by using Rapid Manufacturing, as well as for customized implants. With the new Arcam A2 we target the aerospace market, racing and general industry with a machine fulfilling these industries' need for production of larger components. Arcam currently offers Ti6Al4V, Ti6Al4V ELI and ASTM F75 CoCr. The Electron Beam Melting process is fast and material properties are comparable to wrought metal. - With the capability to produce titanium components with material properties better than cast titanium, the Arcam A2 is a viable alternative for manufacturing components in modern aircraft, says Ulf Lindhe. Arcam in Gothenburg, Sweden, is a high-tech company offering Free Form Fabrication (FFF) equipment for Direct Manufacturing of parts in metals. The equipment is used for Direct Manufacturing of production parts and functional prototypes for aerospace, automotive and medical applications. The technology offers significant reduction of lead time and cost. |
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| Concept Modeling |
| Finite Element Analysis |
| Functional Testing |
| Metal Casting |
| Presentation Models |
| Molecular Modeling |
