BeAM demos additive turbine repairs

At FormNext, an international exhibition and conference on additive manufacturing in Frankfurt, Germany, in November 2016, BeAM demonstrated laser metal deposition (LMD) additive manufacturing machines in aero turbine repair applications.

BeAM’s Mobile and Magic 2.0 machines already produce qualified parts for Chromalloy, a supplier of advanced repairs, coatings, and services for aircraft and industrial turbine airfoils. Chromalloy chose BeAM three years ago to develop the process and work on turbine parts considered irreparable with traditional industrial processes. After more than 1,200 parts repaired, Chromalloy acquired the BeAM machines to internalize production.

At FormNext, five parts of rotary joints in Ti6242, Inconel 718, and Waspaloy were presented, as was a stator vane in Inconel 713. After four repair cycles using BeAM technology, these parts’ lifetime was increased from 10,000 hours to 50,000 hours.

Modulo, a new BeAM machine demonstrated at FormNext, will be available to customers starting in June 2017.

In October 2016, BeAM opened its second office in the U.S., in Cincinnati, Ohio.

BeAM Machines Inc. in Hebron, Kentucky, opened in May 2016. www.beam-machines.com

Methods 3D expands presence via seven US additive mfg. labs

Newly formed subsidiary of Methods Machine Tools Inc., Methods 3D Inc., has completed seven additive manufacturing laboratories across the U.S.

Methods 3D additive manufacturing labs are outfitted with 18 printers offering direct metal printing (DMP), select laser sintering (SLS), stereolithography (SLA), and multi-jet technology printing 14 different materials. Post-processing, such as EDM equipment, CNC machining, automation, and inspection are also onsite, and each location is staffed by sales, application engineers, and service technicians. The additive manufacturing labs are in each of Methods Machine Tools’ technology centers including Sudbury, Massachusetts (Boston) headquarters; Detroit, Michigan; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Phoenix, Arizona; San Francisco, California; and Los Angeles, California.

“Our new additive labs are ideal for manufacturing professionals to consult our experts and explore ways to design and produce their components using the latest 3D technology integrated with conventional machining, automation, and more,” says James Hanson, newly appointed as chief operating officer. “Engineers have been bringing their application challenges to us and we have been working with them to implement this technology into their manufacturing operations” www.methodsmachine.com