The new printer in Building 12, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), utilises a Pellet-MEX process. This enables the processing of both conventional and glass-fibre-reinforced plastics used in industry. It can therefore be used to produce prototypes and demonstrator components whose material-specific properties closely match those of subsequent production parts. Thanks to its capabilities, the ExAM 510 can process several materials simultaneously within a single component. This includes, for example, the combination of different plastics, metals or ceramics.
This opens up new possibilities for the practical development and testing of components right from the early stages of development. The use of materials employed in industry is particularly interesting in this context, as existing certifications and technical approvals can continue to be utilised under suitable conditions. At the same time, properties such as density, electrical insulation, flame retardancy and sound absorption can be simulated realistically.
At the same time, mechanical properties like density, electrical insulation, flame resistance, and/or sound dampening can be realistically represented.
The ExAM 510 thus offers a wide range of applications for research, prototype development and collaboration with industry. It also facilitates the production of demonstrators for field trials.
One example of how the new system is being used is the research project ‘AI-supported process optimisation in additive manufacturing’, led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tassilo-Maria Schimmelpfennig.