SLM SoÂluÂtions Group AG, a leadÂing provider of metal-based adÂdiÂtive manÂuÂfacÂturÂing techÂnolÂogy, will preÂsent the upgraded SLM 280 2.0 3D printer and the genÂerÂaÂtive SeÂlecÂtive Laser MeltÂing (SLM) techÂnolÂogy inÂtended for the proÂducÂtion of mold segÂments for tire treads on the Tire TechÂnolÂogy Expo 2017 in Hannover.
Now in its 17th year, this most imÂporÂtant inÂterÂnaÂtional exÂhiÂbiÂtion and conÂferÂence for tire proÂducÂtion will take place from 14. – 16. FebÂruÂary 2017. Tire TechÂnolÂogy Expo 2017 ofÂfers the visÂiÂtor the world’s preÂmier techÂnolÂogy showÂcase, with exÂhibits of equipÂment and maÂteÂriÂals covÂerÂing the comÂplete specÂtrum of the tire manÂuÂfacÂturÂing process.
The SLM SoÂluÂtions Group AG will preÂsent the latÂest deÂvelÂopÂments in metal-based adÂdiÂtive SLM techÂnolÂogy in Hanover that will opÂtiÂmize tire proÂducÂtion. With the SLM 280 2.0, the North GerÂmans will show the enÂtire process chain (closed loop) of genÂerÂaÂtive manÂuÂfacÂturÂing: from data genÂerÂaÂtion to the meltÂing process up to powÂder reÂcovÂery and reÂcyÂcling.
SLM techÂnolÂogy is used in tire proÂducÂtion for the manÂuÂfacÂturÂing of both samÂple and seÂrÂial mold segÂments for tire treads. By the inÂcreasÂing comÂpetÂiÂtive presÂsure the tire inÂdusÂtry is now forced to utiÂlize all opÂporÂtuÂniÂties to inÂcrease their efÂfiÂciency sysÂtemÂatÂiÂcally. And one such opÂporÂtuÂnity is adÂdiÂtive manÂuÂfacÂturÂing. The SLM 280 2.0 is the ideal “all-purÂpose sysÂtem” for both R+D diÂviÂsions as well as for proÂducÂtion processes using SLM proÂceÂdures. The maÂchines proÂvided by the SLM SoÂluÂtions Group AG can help opÂtiÂmize both processes and proÂducÂtion. They are not only cusÂtomized to the reÂquireÂments of the tire mold proÂducÂtion but also minÂiÂmize enÂergy conÂsumpÂtion while at the same time maxÂiÂmizÂing proÂducÂtivÂity.
On the first day of the exÂhiÂbiÂtion, the Lübeck-based exÂperts will also act as proÂgram deÂsignÂers at the ConÂgress. In his speech “Metal 3D printÂing techÂnolÂogy (SLM) for seÂrÂial proÂducÂtion of tire molds” Ralf FroÂhwÂerk, Global Head of BusiÂness DeÂvelÂopÂment of the SLM SoÂluÂtions Group AG, will show the manÂuÂfacÂturÂers how they can profit from SLM techÂnolÂogy. He will hold his speech on TuesÂday, 14. FebÂruÂary 2017 at 14:40 h. The focus of the speech will lie on the neÂcesÂsity of imÂproved tracÂtion on wet surÂfaces. He will also prove that the proÂducÂtion of new mold segÂments for tire treads using SLM techÂnolÂogy will be faster, and also more exact and highly cost efÂfecÂtive. SLM techÂnolÂogy also enÂables the creÂation of new tire tread molds using the free deÂsign posÂsiÂbilÂiÂties of three-diÂmenÂsional geomeÂtries. The layer-by-layer process using fine metal powÂders alÂlows the conÂstrucÂtion of delÂiÂcate tire blades diÂrectly durÂing the SLM process – a great imÂproveÂment in comÂparÂiÂson to the conÂvenÂtional process where tire blades have to be inÂteÂgrated inÂdiÂvidÂuÂally.
And SLM SoÂluÂtions will conÂtinue to inÂcrease the proÂducÂtivÂity of the genÂerÂaÂtive process to imÂprove the comÂmerÂcial break-even-point in comÂparÂiÂson with conÂvenÂtional proÂducÂtion. In the SLM maÂchine, the powÂder is auÂtoÂmatÂiÂcally fused using a 400 W or 700 W laser beam. With the SLM 500 and its patented multi-beam techÂnolÂogy, one comÂpoÂnent is manÂuÂfacÂtured using up to four 700 W laser beams siÂmulÂtaÂneÂously. With the quad laser techÂnolÂogy (4x 700 W) in comÂbiÂnaÂtion with our patented bi-diÂrecÂtional reÂcoatÂing sysÂtem, these maÂchines inÂcrease the build-up rate up to 90% comÂpared with the twin conÂfigÂuÂraÂtion (2x 700 W).
The maÂchines of SLM SoÂluÂtions comÂprise qualÂity asÂsurÂance sysÂtems, auÂtoÂmated powÂder hanÂdling and also powÂder conÂtrol sysÂtems.