Audi AG has acquired an additive manufacturing (AM) machine supplied by 3D printing specialist SLM Solutions.
The company has purchased the SLM280HL all-purpose system for use in the company’s depart-ment for technical development, based in Gießen, Germany.
This machine reportedly represents the entire laser melting process and is suitable for both R+D di-visions as well as for production processes using SLM procedures.
Audi’s department for technical development in Gießen concentrates on the development and testing of both new casting technologies and light alloys for the entire pressure-casting process chain for the components body, chassis and transmissions. The company’s casting technology cen-ter processes aluminium and magnesium die casting alloys – from pre-development to prototypes, and finally to in-house batch production in three-shift operation. An essential part of the constant further development is the strict focus on materials, technology and process parameters of AM.
With the purchase of the SLM280HL, Audi will be able to integrate SLM Solutions' additive manufac-turing technology into its own development and production processes, SLM says. The focus will be on aluminium materials and serial-component development for the lightweight-design Audi ultra.
This story uses material from SLM, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
