Electro Discharge Sintering (EDS) is used as a rapid compaction process for electric conductive metal powders. A loose powder filling is compacted in the compaction tool by the hydraulic press unit. Subsequently, the discharge of a current pulse (capacitor) from the upper punch through the powder filling into the lower punch and the associated heating according to Joule within milliseconds results in a primary compaction. Due to the short process time of the method, only minor microstructural changes occur.  For this reason, the EDS process is particularly suitable for compacting foreign powder particles that tend to diffuse or nanostructured powder particles.

Technical specification

• Energy of capacitors: 80 kJ
• Condense time: ca. 5 ms
• Amperge: up to 300 kA
• Max. press power: 100 kN
• Sample geometry: cylindrical sample (Ø 19 mm)

Application

• Compaction of conductive powders

In SLA printing technology, a light-sensitive synthetic resin is initially present in a liquid state and is selectively cured layer by layer by a laser during the printing process.  The advantages over FDM printers are the much better surface quality and the mechanical properties of the SLA-printed components. To produce a print, a CAD file in .stl or .obj format is required. This is sliced in the freely available software PreForm and converted into a .form file, which can then be transferred to the printer. Support structures for the print objects can also be created in PreForm, as well as scaling and copies.

Technical specification

• Installation space: 145x145x185 mm
• Resin layer thickness: 50-100 µm
• Laser power: 250 mW
• Laser wavelength: 405 nm

Application

• Rapid Prototyping
• Production of individual components / spare parts for test rigs 
• Materials: Directly available: Standard PLA Resin (white), Ceramic Resin
• All other Formlabs resins can be procured and processed

The vacuum drop furnace offers the possibility to perform under vacuum heat treatments with a fast quenching in water. The furnace can heat up under vacuum and run temperature ramps and, after quickly flooding the furnace with inert gas and opening a bottom door, drop a sample basket from the heating chamber into a bucket of water. This allows samples to be quenched very quickly while exposing them as little as possible to an oxidizing atmosphere.

Technical specification

• Vacuum: high vacuum - approx. 10-4 mbar
• Temperatures: up to 1300 °C
• Sample size: approx. 50mmx50mmx50mm

Application

• Vacuum heat treatment with water quenching

The PBF-LB/M process involves a layer-by-layer build-up of a component by melting and joining metallic powder layers with the help of a high-energy, focused laser. The additive manufacturing method allows the production of highly complex components directly from a 3D CAD model without the use of product-specific tools.

Technical specification

• Manufacturer: REALIZER GmbH
• Laser: ytterbium fiber laser (wavelength = 1076,5 nm, nominal output power = 100 W, effective output power = 77,4 W)
• Platform: Ø = 120 mm, preheating to 200 °C possible
• Possible protective gases: Ar, N2

Application

• Processing of metallic powder materials for the evaluation of PBF-LB processability as well as microstructural, mechanical and chemical properties in the PBF-LB-manufactured state
• Remelting of casts for the investigation of microstructures that solidify far from thermodynamic equilibrium

The vacuum drop furnace offers the possibility to perform under vacuum heat treatments with a fast quenching in water. The furnace can heat up under vacuum and run temperature ramps and, after quickly flooding the furnace with inert gas and opening a bottom door, drop a sample basket from the heating chamber into a bucket of water. This allows samples to be quenched very quickly while exposing them as little as possible to an oxidizing atmosphere.

Technical specification

• Temperatures: up to 1300 °C
• Vacuum: high vacuum - approx. 10-4 mbar
• Sample size: approx. 50mmx50mmx50mm

Application

• Vacuum heat treatment with water quenching.

HIP

The HIP process is used to densify powdered (encapsulated), melt-metallurgical or additively manufactured components up to theoretical density. Porosity is closed by thermal treatment below the melting temperature and simultaneous superimposition of an isostatic gas pressure. A new generation of HIP systems such as the QIH 9 can also realize and control high cooling rates. Integrating heat treatment steps requiring fast cooling into the HIP process in a sustainable manner is possible. Thus, desired microstructures and material properties can be specifically adjusted. Such an integrated heat treatment into the HIP can result in exceptionally increased strength effects on dynamically stressed components and is, therefore, a key technology for long service lifes.

Technical specification

• Manufacturer: Quintus Technologies AB
• Inbetriebnahme: 2014
• Pressure gas: Ar, N
• Working pressure: ≤ 2070 bar (207 MPa)
• Furnace modules: 2
• I. Molybdenum furnace: Goemetry : Æ 87 mm, h: 160 mm, Gas: Ar, Temperature: ≤ 1400°C, Thermocouples: 2 + 4 (Type B)
• II. Graphite furnace: Goemetry: Æ 87 mm, h: 160 mm, Gas: Ar, N, Temperature: ≤ 2000°C, hermocouples: 2 + 4 (Type C)

Application

• Powder metallurgic processing, aerospace industry, energy technology, medical technology, automotive industry
• LWT research topics
• Densification of PM capsules (Fe-base alloys)
• Post processing of additively manufactured parts (Ni-, Ti- and Fe-base alloys)
• Integrated HIP heat treatment of single crystal (SX) Ni-base superalloys and titanium aluminides
• Rejuvenation of turbine blades (SX Ni-base superalloys)
• Redensification of medical implants

Muffelofen

The muffle furnace is being used to heat treat metals. The sluicing of gas works against the scaling of the sample at high temperatures.

Technical specification

• Controller G 800 P
• Max. temperature: 1340 °C
• Heatpower: 2,8 KW
• Heatmethode: Resistant
• Cover gas lavatation: Argon (1 to2 litre per min.)

Application

• The oven can also be used at high temperatures, especially: Harden and temper, Diffusion-, Grain-, normal- and stress annealing

Umluftofen

The oven has a programmable control system, that endores a evenly emperature distribution up to 650°C.

Technical specification

• Manufracturer: Thermconcept KU 15/06/A
• Programm controller: Eurotherm 3208
• Max. Temperature: 650° C
• Heating power: 2,4 kW
• Inside space (WxHxD): ca. 300x150x350 mm ( ca. 15 liter)

Application

• Circulating air oven to measure heat conductivity at elevated temperatures as well as heat treatment of measurement samples

Tube furnaces with ceramic and steel furnace tubes for carrying out heat treatments and sintering. The heat treatments can be carried out under vacuum, protective (Ar) or reactive gases (e.g., nitriding in atmosphere). In addition, wettabilities of surfaces by melts can be investigated through an Inspection glass (contact angle measurement via a camera).

Technical specification

• Maximum temperature 1600 °C / 1350 °C
• Heating rate: 6 K/min / 10 K/min
• Diameter: 40 mm / 50 mm

Application

• Heat treatments in vacuum, protective or reactive gas atmospheres
• Observation of contact angles of melts