Additively manufactured 3D spray head for forging plants wins design award in the category "Industry"
SMS group wins German Design Award 2019
(PresseBox) - A small machine component winning a design award is probably a first in the history of the German Design Award and certainly worth noting. The component for which plant and mechanical engineering company SMS group (www.sms-group.com) has received the German Design Award 2019 in the category ?Industry? is a spray head used to cool dies in forging presses. All involved in the various teams that have been working towards the common goal of adopting an entirely new approach to designing and producing a machine component were excited about the news. Not only the component as such was relevant for the judges, but also the fact that it exemplifies the various aspects of Additive Manufacturing, a technology that has been opening a whole range of new possibilities for the design and functional layout of components. Every year the German Design Council organizes the German Design Award, one of the most recognized design awards worldwide. This Award recognizes innovative products and projects, and the companies or individuals who have fabricated and designed them.
New way of thinking brings about components optimized for specific functions
Axel Ronew era in the design of plant and machine components, enabled by the gamechanging potential of 3D printing and functionoptimized design. The design of a machine part is today no longer limited by the constraints imposed by conventional ? processoptimized ? forming and machining techniques. Supported by latest software and computer technology, we can now give a component exactly the design that fulfils its designated function in the best possible way. Another important aspect is that we have used new materials. Therefore the Award honors not only a new design, but above all the new way of thinspray head solution produced by 3D printing is the result of a joint effort by the Forging Plants Department, the Additive Manufacturing Project Team and the simulation technology experts of SMS group.
Only one tenth of the weight of the conventionally produced component
Common spray heads are heavy and complicated to produce. Their heavy weight impairs the productivity of the forging press. Against this, the new spray head has been designed with a view to how it can fulfill its function in the most efficient way. It is significantly smaller, features flow optimized channels and cools the dies specifically and as required in each individual case. Die areas subjected to intensive heating are cooled at a correspondingly ? precisely calculated ?ts the potential of Additive Manufacturing. The innovative manufacturing methods enabled by 3D printing form the basis for Industrie 4.0. The example of the 3D-printed spray head makes this clear and measurable. Made of plastics, it weighs only one tenth of what a conventional one would weigh. A 3D spray head made of metal weighs up to 70 percent less. It is less expensive, more efficient and can be easily customized and instantly produced. ?
Lower costs, higher productivity
All this provides numerous advantages for drop forging operations. Drop forging presses are being constantly optimized with a view to achieving shortest cycle times and maximized service life of the dies. Spray heads for cooling and lubricating the dies perform a key function in the forging process as without them the dies would not be able to withstand the constant and extremely high stress acting on them during operation. The spray heads are introduced between the open dies awaiting the next forging stroke. The innovative SMS group solution means not only a reduction in weight and costs, but also reduced wear of the supporting arms which introduce the spray heads between the dies. Due to the significantly lower mass to be accelerated, cycle times of the - usually automated - processes can be shortened. Another key advantage for the press operator is the possibility of producing customized spray heads ?on demand?, i.e. the spare heads are available in virtually no time, without incurring the high costs of keeping them physically in stock. Also the environment benefits as the production of the spray heads consumes no more material than absolutely necessary. SMS group plans to also print currentconducting elements and sensors into the spray heads. This will make it possible to actuate the valves electrically and generate& D Project Team SMS group: ?We are in no way restricted by any manufacturing constraints. Therefore we can adopt a creative technological approach to designing and start out from the function the component is going to perform. In other words: We develop the perfect design for the function at hand ready, knowing that it can be produced in the 3D printer.?
Filigree shape proves successful under harsh operating conditions
One of the first customers using the new spray head in practice is Bharat Forge in Ennepetal, Germany. For Bharat Forge, the spray head was specifically designed to allow switching between water and a graphitebased spraying fluid. Both the forge operator and SMS group are extremely satisfied with the performance of the spray head. Bharat Forge: ?The spraying pattern is much more homogeneous now. The dies are cleaner. Consequently the overall consumption of spraying fluid has decreased. Also handling is easier than with the conventionally manufactured spray heads. Accumulations of material, as frequently occurring inside the former spray heads, have not been found thanks to the flowoptimized design of the fluid channels.?
Only one facet of the overall concept of Additive Manufacturing
Although the Design Awardwinning spray head is in the focus of attention above all due to its extraordinary design, this is only one facet of the many activities underway at SMS group in the area of Additive Manufacturing. As the ?Leading Partner in the World of
A main area of Additive Manufacturing is 3D printing of metal. In 3D printing, a laser melts finegrained metal powder at selected, exactly defined locations. The components rebuilt up layer upon layer: A waferthin layer of metal powder is spread out on a powder bed. Then the laser melts the powder at the programmed spots. When this has been completed, another thin layer of powder is applied, and so forth... With this technique it is possible to make components of a complexity not feasible with conventional techniques. SMS group has been very active in the field of Additive Manufacturing for many years and has recently commissioned a pilot plant for industrialscale production of AM-grade metal powder. This powder features very specific properties, which are very likely to propel a completely new growth sector. It is extremely homogeneous and forms the basis of Additive Manufacturing. The powder consists of perfectly round minute spheres measuring only 15 to 45 micrometers (one thousandth of a millimeter). It is hard to imagine how these microscopic particles are produced in a 13 meters tall and complex hightech plant. Markus Her - the complete process chain of this innovative technology. This is why we deliberately chose to not build a smallscale but an industrialscale pilot plant. Only this way can we test the process under realistic conditions, i.e. at high temperatures and pressures and in long production campaigns. Wring. ?
Bright prospects as a supplier of integrated AM solutions
Additively manufactured components are already used in a number of industries. These ?enabler? industries include the aerospace industry, the automotive industry, medical engineering, prototype and tool making, and plant and mechanical engineering. The Demo Center at the Ms, logistics and the automation system. SMS group has been cooperating with Additive Industries in the development of processes that keep the powder under vacuum during all process steps. This prevents the powder from contaminating in any way and ensures that the components produced will be of highee a high and reproducible powder quality for series production. The pilot plant will allow us to optimize the processes so as to maximize productivity and minimize total costs. Our customers will receive modular, scalable solutions tailored to their individual requirements. With our worldspanning service and support network, we are always readily available for our customers to accompany them on their way into the world of Additive Manufacturing.?
?New Horizon? strategy program unlocks the potential of futureoriented technologies
Although the new spraying system for drop forging plants is only a small object, it is ? in the true sense of the word ? a prize example of the exciting developments the plant and mechanical engineering sector is going to see in the very near future. With its corporatewide strategy program ?New Horizon?, SMS group is bundling all futureoriented activities in connection with Additive Manufacturing, digitalization, Industrie 4.0 and new hightech materials. The reason behind this strategy is the fact that all these areas are interconnected and can only be advanced in a concerted approach. The strategy has worked out well. Numerous projects, such as learning steel mills, plants for the production of highperformance materials, and environmental technology that provides both ecological and economic benefits have already been successfully implemented. The new 3D-printed spray heads certainly fits into this category.
SMS group is a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and nonferrous metals industry. It has some 14,000 employees who generate worldwide sales of about EUR 3 billion. The sole owner of the holding company SMS GmbH is the Familie Weiss Foundation.
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SMS group is a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and nonferrous metals industry. It has some 14,000 employees who generate worldwide sales of about EUR 3 billion. The sole owner of the holding company SMS GmbH is the Familie Weiss Foundation.
Datum: 26.11.2018 - 09:12 Uhr
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