ANCA and CSIRO are developing technology for tungsten-carbide tools
The $928,000 AM development collaboration is supported by the IMCRC
Australian industry will soon have access to a novel cutting tool manufacturing platform, thanks to a research collaboration (starting back in 2020) between leading tool manufacturer ANCA, and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. The nine-month, $928,000 project, which is supported by the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), is developing a new additive manufacturing process for tungsten-carbide tools.
The additive manufacturing technology will enable affordable, high-performance tungsten-carbide tools to be manufactured, using one platform – replacing the current production process of mold pressing, sintering, brazing, and grinding. Now in the advanced phase – the research is focused on refining the additive manufacturing technology ahead of ANCA taking the hybrid manufacturing platform to market.
“ANCA’s collaboration with IMCRC and CSIRO has accelerated the development of an innovative additive manufacturing technology which we believe has the potential to disrupt the $2.2B global cutting tool market,” said Dean McBain, Research and Technology Manager at ANCA. “Successful completion of this project will allow ANCA to commercialize the new hybrid additive manufacturing machine platform, grow our workforce and revenue, and fill a significant gap in the global tooling market.”
“In keeping with CSIRO’s role of providing high-end research and development support to the Australian industry using state-of-the-art equipment and world-class know-how, we have collaborated with ANCA to further develop a unique technology,” said Dr. Kathie McGregor, Research Director for Advanced Materials and Processes at CSIRO. “We expect the outcomes may enable ANCA to diversify and grow its business and provide a boost to the local economy in terms of additional job opportunities and export income.”
“As ANCA and CSIRO’s R&D partnership demonstrates, additive manufacturing can generate significant benefits for Australian manufacturers, reducing costs and improving speed to market,” said Dr. Matthew Young, IMCRC’s Manufacturing Innovation Manager. “Once developed, this revolutionary technology can be applied to a range of cutting applications, creating significant global export opportunities and furthering ANCA’s position as a market-leading manufacturer of cutting tools and equipment.”
