Tritone is an Israeli 3D printer manufacturer that has developed a unique additive manufacturing technology called MoldJet®. This makes it possible to design metal parts from a jet of material and a metal paste. One of the key advantages of this method is the ability to create large runs in a short time, with the system having multiple print beds working in parallel. In France, it is the company ERM Fab & Test which markets the technology and today supports manufacturers in their manufacturing projects. Moreover, among the first users of Tritone’s solution, we can cite the company AMT Metal, a subsidiary of Runout Ltd., a service provider specializing in the aeronautics sector. By combining Tritone’s additive manufacturing solution with CNC machines, the company is able to produce high-performance metal parts faster while meeting the constraints of a demanding sector.
It is clear that in recent years there has been growth in metal manufacturing , with increasingly varied processes. Historically, powder bed technologies using a laser have largely dominated the market but for some time now, we have seen the development of processes closer to metal injection molding techniques; we think, for example, of technologies for extruding metal-filled filaments. More recently, the Israeli manufacturer entered the 3D printing market with the aim of enabling the creation of metal parts in large series, all at relatively affordable prices and with a variety of compatible materials – stainless steels, copper, titanium and many others.
Tritone’s Dominant machine (photo credits: Tritone)
Tritone MoldJet technology
It all starts with the use of a special carousel design with independent platens, which allows a parallel workflow in the multiple processing of parts ranging in size from a few mm to 40 cm, providing industrial manufacturing speed. The Tritone system is compatible with a variety of metals by simply replacing the paste dispenser with the desired metal. In the next station, a metal paste is applied to the mold. A precision blade moves over the filled mold and sweeps away excess dough, resulting in a flat molded layer. Next, the station goes into thermal phase to cure the new layer, which is now ready for real-time visual inspection. An AI camera analyzes the layer and ensures that it conforms to the final model. If not, the faulty layer is removed, and the previous layer is repeated without affecting the entire process. This makes it possible to control the quality of parts in real time during manufacturing.
This process repeats layer after layer at industrial speed. The parts are then removed from the table and thanks to its hardening phase, it is possible to continue the process in complete safety. The parts are placed in the mold release solution which chemically dissolves all of the mold material. This soluble release method allows unlimited design freedom, resulting in a clean, sturdy, green part ready for sintering.
The choice of Tritone technology by AMT Metal
AMT Metal is one of the first beta testers of the Tritone solution. Historically a user of CNC machines, it turned to additive manufacturing because it faced high labor costs, while having difficulty finding qualified experts. It needed a complementary solution to reduce costs and execution times. After 5 years of research and monitoring, it chose MoldJet® technology for its manufacturing volume: AMT Metal produces thousands of parts, with different shapes and geometries. We had to find a technology that could meet these two challenges.
Arnon Langevitz, CEO, AMT Metal, told us: “ Tritone’s technology does not involve any handling of metal powder. Therefore, we can install the printer next to our CNC machines without special requirements. It also makes it possible to manufacture parts with different geometries side by side, while meeting the constraints of our customers in the aerospace industry . »
Combining CNC machining and MoldJet® technology
Runout notably manufactures piston guides for hydraulic pumps. These parts include lots of details and features like different thread sizes and a small drainage hole. They are time-consuming and expensive to produce using CNC machines. The teams therefore wanted to explore another manufacturing method and see what it was possible to do, while keeping the same characteristics and requirements.
AMT Metal therefore 3D printed this piston guide with 15-5PH steel and retouched it using machining. Arnon Langevitz explains: “ We took the same T-shaped geometry, used the same material and printed our piston guide. We then machined the threads and holes. With additive manufacturing, and in particular the 6 plates of the Tritone machine, we went from a manufacturing time of 90 days to only 28 days. As for the cost per piece, it went from 443 dollars to 149 . »
The 3D printed part after the sintering stage (photo credits: AMT Metal)
By combining additive manufacturing and subtractive manufacturing, the company has reduced its costs by 67% and its lead times by 70%. This complementarity between the two technologies is obviously not new and manufacturers all agree that additive manufacturing is not intended to replace traditional methods, but rather to support them, or even relieve them. Arnon Langevitz concludes: “ Adding CNC machines is not the solution for us, we need to find more automated processes. Additive manufacturing is an answer because, although it does not offer the same precision as machining, it comes close while reducing the quantity of materials required, time and costs. It is a complementary technology that could allow us to increase our production capacities . »
The final piston guide after the machining and post-processing phase (photo credits: AMT Metal)
If you would like to know more about Tritone’s metal additive manufacturing process and the characteristics of its machines, go to the website of its official French distributor, ERM Fab & Test HERE .
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*Cover photo credits: Tritone
Link Source: https://www.3dnatives.com/technologie-moldjet-tritone-27062022/