© LWT

The Chair of Materials Technology (LWT) has expanded its infrastructure with a state-of-the-art PBF-LB/M system – the AconityMINI. This advanced setup offers a wide range of innovative features and opens up extensive opportunities for research in the field of additive manufacturing of metallic materials.

A standout feature of the new AconityMINI is its ability to preheat the build chamber up to 500 °C, which is a crucial requirement for processing crack-sensitive materials such as tool steels and high-speed steels. We aim to leverage this capability to develop new process strategies that enable defect-free processing of these challenging materials.

The system is further equipped with a powerful 1200 W AFX laser, which allows for dynamic adjustment of the beam profile – from a spot focus to a ring-shaped intensity distribution. This feature enables targeted control of the interaction between the laser and the material. Our research focus includes:

•    New material concepts based on powder blends (“modular powder toolbox”)
•    Use of recycled grinding swarf recovered from sludge to promote circular economy principles
•    In-situ alloying with ceramic particles
•    Fabrication of high-nitrogen steels
•    Tailored microstructures with chemical homogeneity and improved productivity

An integrated pyrometer allows for precise monitoring of thermal emissions from the melt pool during the build process. This is complemented by an innovative control system capable of monitoring and regulating thermal accumulation along the component height. This opens up new research on:

•    Utilizing controlled thermal gradients to achieve required preheating conditions in crack-sensitive parts without preheating the build plate
•    Minimizing unwanted thermal accumulation to enhance process stability

The AconityMINI is seamlessly integrated into LWT’s existing process chain. Thanks to the reduced build volume, small powder batches – such as custom alloys produced via VIGA – can be qualified efficiently, and rapid powder changes are easily possible due to the system's flexible design.

We welcome collaborative research projects!
Whether you're working on new material concepts, application-driven challenges, or fundamental process investigations – feel free to contact us. Let’s shape the future of additive manufacturing together.

Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 555100690 and the BMWK