toolcraft and Siemens Bring Porous Structures to Industry with AM

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Have you ever wondered how the latest advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) are transforming the industrial landscape? The collaboration between toolcraft and Siemens is a prime example of innovation pushing the boundaries of what is possible in this field. By focusing on porous structures, these companies are bringing an exciting new dimension to various industries with the help of additive manufacturing.

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Toolcraft and Siemens Bring Porous Structures to Industry with AM

In the world of industrial manufacturing, the partnership between toolcraft and Siemens is making significant waves. Siemens, a global leader in industrial technology, and toolcraft, a specialist in precision manufacturing and additive manufacturing, have teamed up to develop highly optimized porous material structures. This collaboration is unlocking new potentials and setting the stage for remarkable advancements across numerous industries.

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Siemens and Toolcraft: Pioneers in Industrial Manufacturing

Siemens has long been at the forefront of developing optimized porous material structures through additive manufacturing. Their collaboration with toolcraft has resulted in groundbreaking innovations that impact many sectors, from aerospace to mechanical engineering. The focus on porous metallic structures has shown that these materials can transport liquids or manage heat more efficiently, akin to how a sugar cube absorbs liquid through its capillary action.

Practical Applications of Porous Structures

One of the most significant achievements of this partnership is the creation of functionally optimized porous structures. Siemens’ research has moved beyond the lab, enabling real-world applications in industries that require advanced material performance. These applications include advanced heat transport and cooling capabilities, which significantly enhance the performance of critical industrial components.

From 3D-PROCESS Project to Industrialization

The Siemens and toolcraft partnership is rooted in the 3D-PROCESS project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. This project focused on creating initial demonstrators for chemical reaction technologies using porous materials. Recognizing the vast potential of these structures, Siemens extended their use to other high-performance sectors.

Dr. Karsten Heuser, Vice President of Additive Manufacturing at Siemens Digital Industries, noted, “Porous structures have shown enormous potential across various industries. We see applications in aerospace, energy process engineering, and beyond. With toolcraft, we are now building the strategic bridge for industrial production of these complex structures.”

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Meeting Industry Standards

Ensuring that porous structures meet industry standards is crucial for their adoption in various applications. Christoph Hauck, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at toolcraft AG, emphasized, “We are working to ensure that porous structures meet the needs of all industry applications, particularly in energy process engineering. This partnership will ensure compliance with all relevant industry standards, including the European Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU for materials such as Hastelloy® C22, which we’ve been using for more than a year.”

Advantages of Porous Structures

Additive manufacturing has made significant strides, but the development of porous structures is particularly exciting. These structures offer a unique combination of permeability and structural stability, enabling highly functional designs that are difficult to achieve with conventional methods.

The Role of Powder Bed Fusion Processes

Toolcraft and Siemens concentrate on powder bed fusion processes (L-PBF), which allow precise control over pore size and distribution in metallic parts. This control optimizes the structural and functional requirements of components, especially in applications where pressure management, heat dissipation, or liquid absorption is crucial.

In energy process engineering, for example, porous components can equalize excess pressure, maintain thermal stability, and effectively absorb liquids. These properties are indispensable in process industries, where components are subjected to extreme operational conditions.

Expanding Applications

“Porous metallic structures can revolutionize industrial manufacturing,” explained Christoph Hauck. “From reducing component weight to improving temperature control, the benefits are clear. Our goal is to take this technology to all plants and systems, ensuring that it is fully applicable across the industrial spectrum.”

Targeting Full-Scale Industrial Applications

The potential for porous structures in additive manufacturing is enormous. Siemens and toolcraft are poised to make significant strides in various sectors, including process industries, aerospace, and energy. They are also exploring applications in mechanical engineering and medical technologies, where the unique properties of porous materials can offer tremendous advantages.

Training Programs and AMbitious Initiative

To further encourage the adoption of innovative structures, Siemens and toolcraft plan to offer training programs under their AMbitious initiative. These programs aim to share expertise and expand the role of additive manufacturing from prototyping and small-batch production to full-scale industrial applications.

Conclusion

The collaboration between toolcraft and Siemens is a shining example of how innovation in additive manufacturing can lead to remarkable advancements across various industries. By focusing on porous structures, they are not only pushing the boundaries of what is possible but also setting new standards for industrial manufacturing. The future looks promising as these leaders drive the full-scale adoption of these groundbreaking technologies.

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