Metal additive manufacturing covers many different methods from directed energy deposition, over laser powder bed fusion to binder jetting. One thing in common for almost all the metal additive manufacturing processes is the need for post processing heat treating. For many of the fusion-based processes with ultra fast cooling, unorthodox microstructures arise in the part and large internal stresses are present. This requires specialized and optimized heat treating procedures, whether it is stress relief or full heat treating cycles.
For processes such as binder jetting there are other requirements to thermal processing, e.g. densification. The required heat treating procedures are also very much materials specific. In order to develop heat treating cycles fundamental understanding of the behavior of the materials is pivotal. Many times, atmosphere control (reactive atmosphere, vacuum etc.) is crucial for a successful outcome. We rely on state-of-art in-situ instruments, and we are able to simulate any type of process. We can heat treat under high vacuum which is particularly well suited for AM parts
Current and pending projects & other activities:
Heat treating of 17/4PH fabricated with LPBF and BJ.
Microstructure optimization in high carbon steels (leveraged project)
