Leading in Metal

Additive manufacturing

3D printing metal has is a cost-effective manufacturing alternative for countless applications across a variety of major industries. SLM Solutions takes a vested interest in your company’s long-term success with metal AM, providing support and knowledge-sharing that elevates use of the technology to the next level.

How to leverage

selective laser melting capabilities?

We will help you identify opportunities to leverage selective laser melting capabilities to achieve your AM goals such as:

Part design for lightweighting, reduced post processing etc.
Reducing multiple components into one part
Part positioning and nesting to maximize build production

DESIGN

Metal AM offers the ability to realize part designs that were previously impossible through traditional manufacturing processes. Multiple machined components can be consolidated and printed into one unified part.

Performance

Features such as conformal cooling, hollowed lattice structures and more greatly improve metal part performance and function. Optimized topology allows for parts to maintain their same strength and load requirements while significantly reducing weight.

shortened development time

Drastically shortened development time for new components without the need for tooling means parts can get to production quicker. Parts can also be printed on-demand and manufacturing internalized providing cost savings and optimized supply chains.

Getting Started with

Additive Manufacturing

Choosing the right technology is critical, but forging partnerships with the right AM provider is the fastest path to success. Metal 3D printing technology offers many benefits for complex metal part production. Here is an overview of the most important aspects to consider before investing.

"I realized the potential selective laser melting technology possessed to disrupt traditional metal part design and manufacturing. It was my goal to develop a reliable technology, but to also commercialize a successful product. I am proud of the advancements we’ve made by partnering with our customers, and supporting them to achieve new possibilities with metal using our technology."

DR. DIETER SCHWARZE

CO-INVENTOR OF SELECTIVE LASER MELTING AND CHIEF ENGINEER AT SLM SOLUTIONS

Real World

Success Stories

Bugatti Active Heat Shield

Machine: SLM^®280 Twin
Material: AlSi10Mg
Layer Thickness: 60µm
Build Time: 4 hr 4m per Unit

Installed in all vehicles since the delivery of the first Bugatti Chiron from the production facility in Molsheim. This part provides integrated water-cooling channels to serve as an active heat shield to the motor’s electric pump. The complex geometry was produced at lower costs than with traditional methods.

Monolithic Thrust Chamber - Cell Core GmbH

Machine: SLM^®280
Material: IN718
Layer Thickness: 30µm
Build Time: 3d 5h 34 m (Maximized Build Chamber, 1 Unit)

CellCore GmbH’s monolithic thrust chamber takes advantage of additive manufacturing’s benefits by integrating multiple parts and internal features. Combining individual parts into single components makes the thrust chamber highly efficient and minimizes individual process steps. CellCore GmbH was also able to improve functional cooling due to an innovative lattice structure which also increases the thrust chamber’s stability. Through selective laser melting the production time was reduced from months to days.

Acetabular Cups With Integrated Lattice Structure

Machine SLM^®280
Material: Ti6Al4V
Layer Thickness: 60µm
Build Time: 15h (Maximized Build Chamber, 34 Units)

Selective laser melting machines are able to achieve the fine details needed across the geometry of the acetabular cups to create osseointegration, the optimal connection between the implant and the bone through bone ingrowth of the cup’s porous exterior. Up to 34 acetabular cups (Ø44m) can be placed on the SLM^®280 build plate which means only 30 minutes of build time per part.