Time is running out! Nominate now for the 3D Printing Industry Awards 2023.
AMCM, a Germany-based partner company of 3D printer manufacturer EOS, has announced the development of its latest metal laser beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) 3D printer, the AMCM M 8K.
Building on the company’s existing AMCM M 4K system, AMCM’s new 3D printer will feature 8 1kW lasers and a significant build volume of 800 x 800 x 1200mm.
The development of the M 8K is supported by a national grant to support the Ariane 6 program from aerospace company ArianeGroup. This project is carried out on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).
The first application of the M 8K will be the production of combustion chambers used in ArianeGroup’s Prometheus rocket engine. These components, 3D printed from CuCr1Zr, have a height of over 1,000 mm and a maximum diameter of 800 mm.
According to Martin Bullemer, Managing Director at AMCM, the new M 8K system will be operational within a year. The first 3D printed combustion chambers are scheduled to be delivered to ArianeGroup by the end of 2024.
“We needed to find a partner who was willing to work with us to push the boundaries of what was possible. This is literally the DNA of AMCM, who have already built an excellent reputation in this industry with several M 4K systems,” commented Jan Alting, Head of Future Propulsion at ArianeGroup.
“ArianeGroup projects must meet ESA’s strict requirements to be approved for launch. “We therefore attach great importance to the quality of the parts, for example the microstructure of the material and the surface roughness,” explains Alting. “We are confident that we can solve this challenge in a short time and help the company enter new markets. Driving breakthrough technological innovation is an essential part of our mission.”
“The excellent laser, scanner and optics design with our proven beam sources is based on decades of process expertise at EOS,” adds Bullemer.
Combustion chambers from ArianeGroup. Photo via AMCM.
AMCM’s new 3D printer M 8K PBF-LB
According to Bullemer, AMCM faced a number of size-related challenges when developing the M 8K. “The construction volume is four times larger than the M 4K, which also means mass. Therefore, the Z-axis of the system must be able to move up to 5 tons of powder with the highest precision,” explains Bullemer.
Bullemer also emphasized the importance of material supply for the new 3D printer. “To print parts up to 1.2m high with high productivity and quality, powder management is crucial. Reliably feeding tons of metal powder over several days is not child’s play. You definitely don’t want to interrupt the process.”
AMCM has also announced that it will integrate EOS’s SmartFusion and EOSTATE Exposure OT (optical tomography) systems into the M 8K.
According to AMCM, this integration will improve in-process quality assurance and process monitoring and reduce the effort for subsequent testing. In fact, the company claims that process control and validation are particularly important given the longer 3D printing runs and the M 8K’s ability to produce larger parts.
ArianeGroup tests 3D printed combustion chambers in hot firing. Photo via AMCM.
3D printing space-worthy parts
Using additive manufacturing to produce key components for space rocket engines is nothing new. Last month it was announced that aerospace propulsion system developer Agile Space Industries is seeking certification of Ni625 powder from industrial 3D printing materials manufacturer 6K Additive.
Agile wants to use this material for 3D printed space rocket components, including the company’s A2200 hypergolic dual-propellant engine. These engines are used on a lunar lander for a mission to the moon.
Likewise, Edinburgh-based private rocket manufacturer Skyrora recently began extensive testing to qualify the updated design of its 3D printed 70kN rocket engine. The new motor design is manufactured using the company’s Skyprint 2 3D printers and features an improved cooling chamber to optimize cooling efficiency and extend the life cycle of the motors.
Elsewhere, Italian 3D printing services company BEAMIT SpA announced that it is providing 3D printed aerospace parts for the Cygnus program. The parts are 3D printed from NASA-qualified AlSi7Mg aluminum with PBF-LB and are NADCAP certified.
The Cygnus program aims to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) and advance space exploration using the Cygnus spacecraft manufactured by Northrop Grumman.
Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook page and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel to access more exclusive content.
Are you interested in working in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit 3D Printing Jobs to view a selection of available positions and boost your career.
The image shows ArianeGroup testing 3D printed combustion chambers in hot firing. Photo via AMCM.
