Today, new technologies are used to manufacturing many complicated industrial parts and components. One of these technologies is the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology which is classified by the nature of the process in the family of additive manufacturing technologies. With using this technology, the most sophisticated industrial parts of all types of metals and their alloys can be manufactured without the need for complicated molds and tools. This article briefly introduces the technology and its applications in various industry sectors.
What is SLM Technology?
According to the ASTM‘s definision, the process of adding materials in detail and joining them together to create a solid shape using information from a 3D model is called “additive manufacturing”. This technology itself is divided into several categories.
One of these catagories is SLM technology. By using a high-power laser beam, the material melts point by point and then solidified. In this technology, the material which is used to make the piece is metal powder so that it is melted due to the heat from the laser radiation and fusion between the metal powder particles is created. This action is repeated layer by layer and the piece is shaped. The laser beam movement is controlled by information generated from a 3D model by the machine’s central computer.
What kinds of parts from which materials can produced by SLM Technology?
In addition to steel, this technology is ideal for producing parts from different metals such as copper, titanium, aluminum and nickel as well as their alloys. Today, the SLM technology is widely used in many hi-tech industries such as aeronautics, aerospace, oil and gas, marine, automotive, etc. The market value of this technology is expected to exceed $ 20 billion by 2025. Nowadays, many countries with hi-tech industrial technology are investing heavily in technology and now, it is the time for the leading industries in our country to adopt and apply this technology.
To get an idea of the capability of this technology, some of the parts made with this technology are shown in the following picture:
What are the advantages of SLM compared with common technologies?
This technology has many advantages over conventional manufacturing technologies, some of which described as follows:
1- The possibility of designing and producing parts in very complex shapes that are difficult or impossible to accomplish with other manufacturing methods;
2- No need for multiple machines as well as tools, jig and fixtures for production;
3. Less production time due to the elimination of multiple operations and thus lower production costs;
4- Significant reduction of scrap material near zero;
5- Lower the part’s weight and saving raw materials consumed;
6- Reduce the required workshop space due to the small size of the SLM machines;
7. Ability to reduce inventory parts due to reduced time and simple production.
It should be noted that SLM machines do not require much work space due to the relatively small size of machines, and so a production facility with SLM technology requires less area than workshops with conventional technology . The following is an overview of two types of industrial SLM Machines manufactured by Wiiboox 3D Technolgy Company:
It is worth noting that Arya Consulting, Engineering and Supply Company (Meta) as exclusive representative of Wiiboox 3D Technology Company is capable to providing this technology and related equipment and is ready to provide services and training to companies and industries intended to apply this technology. Contact Arya Consulting, Engineering and Supply Company (Meta) today for more information and receive free consultation. You can also click here to view the technical specifications of the SLM equipment and download catalogs and sample images.
Our contact Information is per below:
Office: +98 21 88910625-6
Fax: +98 21 89777741 , 88805860
Website: http://www.metacoltd.com
E-mail: info@metacoltd.com
This article was published and available on the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) website at https://www.isna.ir/news/98121914758
.
Download file
