Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is central to KAM’s production of metal additive manufacturing (AM) parts. In this process, lasers melt and weld layers of metallic powder resulting in parts that are durable and can be polished. As the parts go through final finishing processes, fixtures hold the parts in the correct position for speed and consistency. For machined parts with simple geometry, conventional fixturing methods suffice, but for highly detailed AM parts, fixturing can be more complicated. In general, the more complex the surface of the part, the more detailed the fixture needs to be. In the past, skilled technicians at KAM used a clamping system to rig parts in place. This process was time-consuming and difficult to replicate for consistency.
At KAM, employees are committed to continuous improvement for their customers and their internal processes. When the limitations of manual rigging became a problem, they knew that custom fixtures were the solution. After weighing the options, they found advanced support in Essentium’s High Speed Extrusion (HSE™) 3D Printing Platform.
“Essentium HTN is our go-to material if we want to get a print right the first time. The printability of the material combined with the speed of the HSE 3D Printer allows us to quickly to iterate through designs, print them, and use them on the same day.” Joshua Oswald, Engineer, KAM
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For more information on KAM’s full lineup of capabilities and services, contact info@kamsolutions.com.
