Flexible Additive Manufacturing of Functional Copper-based Products

Purpose and goal

The project has demonstrated how additive manufacturing can create copper-based products for advanced applications. A constellation with companies, institutes and universities has developed a position in this area from an international perspective. The development of physical demonstrators has been done in pure copper to full density according to different manufacturing concepts and the production of high quality bronze has also been shown. When it comes to the demonstrators in pure copper, it shows its equivalent performance as conventional product for the application.

Expected results and effects

Through this project, new value chains have been created where technology supplier / developer in additive manufacturing has developed collaboration with end users in two stages (manufacturer of inductors and end users of induction hardening inductors. With respect to technology, this has been shown for two different techniques, laser powder bed fusion and binder jetting. Research efforts at universities and institutes have created a technology and knowledge platform for the further application of additive manufacturing in other product segments.

Planned approach and implementation

The project has involved companies in the value chain powder, additive manufacturing, design/product owners, end users. Research efforts at universities and institutes have supported with in-depth studies on powder properties, process studies and evaluation of material structures and properties. Division between universities/institutes and machine suppliers/developers of additive manufacturing has been based on capacity and competence. Two technologies have been included, laser powder bed fusion and binding jetting. Application study has been carried out on inductor.