Additive manufacturing

Model : SonicLayer 4000 from Fabrisonic Capacity : 101 x 101 x 61 cm (40 x 40 x 24’’) Characteristics : Additive manufacturing of part using metal tape Welding of incompatible metals Possibilty to build part with closed hollow sections without the need of assembly The Ultrasonic welding machine from Fabrisonic performs additive manufacturing by welding, metallic tapes one to another using ultrasonic acoustic vibration. This welding technique allows us to join together metals that are considered incompatible. This can be done because ultrasonic welding is performed in the solid state and as such, no fragile liquid phase is formed. The part is machined as it is being built and it is possible to include closed hollow section without the need for assembly. This machine is unique in Québec province and in Canada.

Model : Projet 3510 CP from 3D Systems Capacity : 29.8 x 18.5 x 20.3 cm (11.75 x 7.8 x 8’’) Characteristic : Additive manufacturing of wax parts that are used in investment casting by lost wax The wax 3D printer can build parts used as models in investment casting by lost wax. The metallic products built using this technology possess a dimensional tolerance of 0,025 mm. The wax parts used for investment casting are traditionally cast into metallic moulds, which require the machining of a mould for each new part design. 3D printing of wax allows to avoid the costly machining of moulds.

In those installations, 3D printed wax parts are invested in a slurry with a ceramic base, which, when hardened, form a shell around the wax part. The wax is then melted and extracted from the shell. The resulting shell will act as a mould for the casting under vacuum of zirconium and titanium parts, for which the dimensional tolerance is excellent.

Model : LENS 450XL from Optomec Capacity : 91 x 58 x 48 cm (36 x 23 x 19’’) Work zone : 10 x 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 x 4’’) Characteristics : Additive manufacturing of parts using metallic powder Addition on existing parts Repairs of parts Elaboration of varying chemical composition depending on the location in the part Rapid alloy discovery Cladding with metals, ceramics or metallic glasses The LENS 450XL 3D printer builds metallic or ceramic parts by projection of metallic (or ceramic) powder into a laser beam. This technology differs from other metallic 3D printer in which the laser beam pass through a powder bed. The LENS technology can, by opposition to the powder bed technologies, repair and add section to existing parts. Additionally, it is possible to build parts in which the composition will vary with the location. This allows to optimize mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. This machine is unique in Québec province and in Canada.