Groundbreaking project "AutoSmooth"
Headmade Materials, AM Solutions and Neue Materialien Bayreuth jointly launch the "AutoSmooth" project to develop a continuous process chain for the CMF technology from powder to smoothed component.
Headmade Materials GmbH has started the groundbreaking project "AutoSmooth" in cooperation with AM Solutions, a brand of the Rösler Group, and Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH. Industrial implementation of the results has been taken care of. Headmade Materials is a developer of materials and processes for powder metallurgy. In addition, the company is a pioneer of the ColdMetalFusion process and forms the bridge to industrial users. AM Solutions is a global leader in post-processing solutions for 3D printing and is working to scale and automate post-processing.
The innovative ColdMetalFusion (CMF) technology already enables users to cost-effectively manufacture high-quality metal components in series production in quantities of up to 100,000,000 parts per year. However, in order to fully exploit this potential of additive series production, a decisive further development is still required: the automation of the unpacking of printed parts and their subsequent surface processing.
The main objective of the AutoSmooth project is to create a fully automated process chain ideally matched to the properties of ColdMetalFusion components for unpacking and surface treatment within the next three years. Through the close cooperation of Headmade Materials, AM Solutions and Neue Materialien Bayreuth, the respective expertise will be bundled to master this essential challenge.
"From our perspective, the key to industrial production with low scrap rates for the entire industry lies in component handling. Through the cooperation in the AutoSmooth project, we will reach a new level here. In order to exploit the full potential of additive series manufacturing, it requires the automation of unpacking and surface processing," said Christian Staudigel, Co-CEO of Headmade Materials. "CMF technology has already laid the foundation for this, and now we will take the next step toward a fully automated solution with our partners."
The expertise of AM Solutions, and thus Rösler's 80 years of experience, in the field of surface processing and the scientific excellence of Neue Materialien Bayreuth form the perfect foundation for the development of an automated process chain that meets the highest quality standards.
Dr. Till Merkel, Division Manager Technology at Rösler OberflÀchentechnik GmbH, emphasizes, "Our many years of experience in surface processing combined with the high scalability of ColdMetalFusion and the research know-how of Neue Materialien Bayreuth will revolutionize additive metal series production."
The AutoSmooth project underlines the commitment of the companies involved to push the boundaries of what is possible and create groundbreaking solutions. The partnership will undoubtedly open the door to a new era of additive series production of metal components.
At the Formnext trade show in November in Frankfurt, AM Solutions, Neue Materialien Bayreuth and Headmade Materials will inform visitors about the AutoSmooth project. AM Solutions - 3D postprocessing technology will welcome customers in hall 12.0, booth D59, Neue Materialien Bayreuth will inform prospects in hall 12.1 booth C71, while visitors can experience Headmade Materials and the ColdMetalFusion process in hall 11.1, booth D58.
About Headmade Materials
Headmade Materials GmbH, Unterpleichfeld, Germany, develops materials and processes for powder metallurgy. The core technology is the self-developed and in-house manufactured binder systems, which enable customers to produce metal parts cost-effectively and in serial production. Apart of developing standard materials, the company runs bespoke material developments for its customers. Headmade Materials advises customers on application design and material processing. It also offers customers on-site use of their ColdMetalFusion line and other equipment for the production of first application prototypes and small series for ramp-up.
About Neue Materialien Bayreuth
Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH is a renowned non-university research institution specializing in the research and development of novel materials and processes. All future-oriented processes of 3D printing are available at the Demo Center Additive Manufacturing in the Technical Center. The close connection to the University of Bayreuth ensures a strong scientific basis.