• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Additive Manufacturing (AM)

Additive Manufacturing (AM)

AM showcases the latest technology and industry developments with in-depth case studies, resources, interviews with experts and events.

    • CHANNEL
      • Aerospace
      • Automotive
      • Energy
      • Medical
      • Innovation
    • TOPICS
      • Design
      • Management
      • Materials
      • Post Processing
      • Processes
      • Quality Management Systems
      • Regulatory & Standards
      • Software
      • Workforce Development
    • NEWS
    • EVENTS
      • Conferences
      • Virtual Events
      • Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • On-Demand
      • Add Your Event
    • MEDIA
      • AM News LIVE
      • AM Voices
      • Podcast
      • Video
    • RESOURCES

    Successful Industrialization and Digitalization of Additive Manufacturing

    Munich/Oberschleissheim, May 24, 2022 — The industrialization and digitalization of additive manufacturing (AM) for automotive series processes has been successful. A project consortium funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and led by the BMW Group was launched three years ago, with small and mid-sized enterprises, large companies and research institutes. The common goal was to revolutionize metal 3D printing in standard production of cars.

    The 12 members of the consortium presented the successful implementation of the IDAM (Industrialization and Digitalization of Additive Manufacturing) project at the BMW Group Additive Manufacturing Campus in Oberschleißheim, where a digitally connected, fully automated 3D printing production line has been set up and prepared for automotive standard production. An additional line is located at the firm GKN Powder Metallurgy in Bonn.

    Around 50,000 components per year can be manufactured cost-effectively in common part production, as well as more than 10,000 individual and new parts, by means of 3D printing using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF): The starting material, metal powder, is remelted with a laser, layer by layer, at the site where the solid component needs to be created at each level. Using this 3D printing process means certain tools are no longer required and new design possibilities can be realized – which greatly increases flexibility.

    Having started out from a concept outline in 2019, fully automated driverless transport systems (FTS) now carry the 3D printers’ mobile build chambers between modules in the IDAM production lines. The machines are orchestrated by a central control unit that consolidates all production data from individual line modules to ensure maximum productivity and quality.

    Over the course of the project, innovative concepts were developed for automated generation of 3D printing construction data. Fully automated modules now transport the processed metal powder to workstations where they prepare the material independently. Post-processing of the manufactured components takes place at specially designed stations that are also fully automated. The quality of the components is top priority. Quality assurance of the finished parts takes place in-line, during the laser melting process, using sensors. This includes checking emissions from the molten pool with a CMOS camera and pyrometer. AI algorithms are used to correlate the data collected with actual component quality. This means process deviations can already be identified during production and component quality evaluated.

    Successful implementation of the project called upon the expertise of all project partners. This was the only way to achieve digitalization and automation in mechanical and plant engineering, in component design and in the area of metal 3D printing.

    “From the very first day of the project, you could feel the team spirit among the partners. Learning from one another, developing innovative solutions together and making the best use of each partner’s individual strengths – those were key to successful industrialization and digitalization of additive manufacturing,” according to Felix Haeckel, consortium leader and BMW Group project manager.

    related /

  • AM Industrialization, Supply Chain Resiliency and America Makes at 10 Years
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory Installs Xerox® Elem™ Additive ElemX™ 3D printer to Advance Metal Additive Manufacturing
  • Morf3D and 6K Additive Partner to Qualify Metal Powders for Additive Manufacturing
  • Primary Sidebar

    events /

    Oct 17
    October 17 @ 8:00 am - October 19 @ 5:00 pm EDT

    AM Automotive Summit 2022

    Detroit MI
    Nov 2
    November 2 @ 8:00 am - November 3 @ 5:00 pm EDT

    AM Medical Summit 2022

    Minneapolis MN
    Jan 18
    Featured Featured
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST

    AM Tech Forum 2022

    View Calendar

    webinars /

    Jul 20
    2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT

    Print, Replace, & Repeat: Distributed Manufacturing with Metal AM

    View Calendar

    Footer

    With dozens of innovative products, materials, software, and applications being launched constantly, you can rely on AdditiveManufacturing.com to keep you ahead of the curve.

    stay connected /

    recent /

    • Point-of-Care Additive Manufacturing of Tissue Regenerative Implants
    • Rocket Factory In-A-Box for US Air Force Research Laboratory
    • Watch On-Demand: AM News LIVE, Episode 8
    • Metal Additive Manufacturing Focus of Velo3D European Technical Center
    • Smart Manufacturing Innovation Unlocked with Nexus from Hexagon
    • Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) Value
    • Innovative Medical 3D Printing at Tampa General Hospital and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Provides Clearer Map for Surgery
    • Bioprinting with Algorithms: Amelie Erben, Hyperganic Group

    topics /

    • Applications
    • Design
    • Materials
    • Post Processing
    • Processes
    • Quality Management Systems
    • Regulatory & Standards
    • Software

    media /

    • Rocket Factory In-A-Box for US Air Force Research Laboratory
    • Watch On-Demand: AM News LIVE, Episode 8
    • Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) Value
    • Vat Photopolymerization Lifecycle and the Photopolymer Evolution
    • Leading the Way for the Next Generation in Advanced Manufacturing
    • Digitalization Advice for Entrepreneurs
    • Watch On-Demand: AM News Live Episode 7
    • Yoav Zeif, CEO of Stratasys: Creating Scale for Industry

    Copyright © 2022 Metrix Connect, LLC

    • Advertise
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Code of Conduct
    • Contact