Direct Metal Deposition technology provides reduced powder consumption, makes it possible to print large parts, as well as repair used parts.
Illustrative photo: dela.ru
The Metalcom company, which unites RUSAL's powder business, supplied the products. Its production sites are located in Volgograd and Shelekhov, Irkutsk region.
The powders have been successfully tested when printing products by customers, said Nikolay Melnikov, General Director of Metalcom LLC.
"Compared to LB PBD (Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion) technology, which is traditional for the Russian industry, DMD has a number of advantages: it provides reduced powder consumption, allows printing large parts, and allows not only the production of new parts, but also the repair of used parts. The development of new technology opens up new opportunities for Russian high-tech industries and gives an additional impetus to the development of additive manufacturing."Using LB PBD technology, the powder is distributed on a platform (substrate) in a 3D printer chamber, the necessary particles are fused with a laser according to the 3D model, the platform is lowered by one level and the operation is repeated. The dimensions of the printed part are limited by the platform area, the largest 3D printers of Russian companies have platforms with dimensions up to 1000 cm, most 3D printers have a platform width and length much smaller.
A 3D printer using direct laser growth technology (PLV/DMD) from Rusatom — Additive Technologies. Photo: "Rosatom Country".
According to DMD technology, the powder is applied from the top of the dispenser directly to the desired area of the product, heated by a laser to the melting point, thereby melting the powder. The dispenser and laser are mounted on a robotic arm moving in three dimensions, the dimensions of the printed part are limited by the "range" of the arm and can reach several meters.
