VBN
Components exhibits 3D printed cemented carbide at EMO Hannover
For
Swedish VBN Components, exhibiting at the EMO fair in Hannover will be the
great launch for the patented alloy Vibenite® 480. As the only company in the
world, VBN 3D prints fully functional components in cemented carbide with EBM
technology.
In December 2018, VBN Components declared that it could 3D print cemented carbide containing 65% carbides, which is unparalleled in additive manufacturing and considered “impossible” by some. Since then, the company has received much attention and has more than doubled the number of unique visitors at its website. The next step is to showcase Vibenite® 480 at the EMO fair in Hannover, Germany on 16-21 September, in the Additive Manufacturing Circle, Hall 9. VBN will give two “Expert talks”, on 18 September at 11am and on 20 September at 2pm. The innovation has been highlighted on the EMO website as one of the most important new technologies of the fair.
Vibenite®
480 is based on metal powder produced through large scale, industrial gas
atomisation, minimising both costs and environmental impact. The material
combines the toughness of powder metallurgical high-speed steels (PM-HSS) with
the heat resistance of cemented carbides and has therefore been named hybrid
carbide. The carbides are fine and well-dispersed, giving a structure with
higher toughness than traditional cemented carbides. Long-term hot hardness has
been measured to 750° C for this corrosion resistant material with a hardness
of ~66 HRC.
“EMO Hannover is the perfect event to showcase our technology. We will
meet with experts in the metalworking field from different parts of the world
to discuss how our 3D printed cemented carbide can improve performance in
components and overall production,” states Ulrik Beste, CTO and one of the founders
of VBN.
The
innovation enables rapid product development of components like gear hobs and
rock drills; in a couple of months you can create a product with higher wear
resistance, new geometries or reduced weight. Since the production method is not
limited by machining, pressing or sintering, your imagination is the limit. The
efficiency of 3D printing also makes it far more environmentally friendly than
traditional methods.
In the Vibenite®-portfolio there are five materials: three high-speed steels, one martensitic stainless steel and one cemented carbide, with a hardness between 58–72 HRC. Like the other materials, the cemented carbide is patented, the manufacturing process included. It is niched both towards applications where steel is normally used, but where production efficiency can increase by switching to cemented carbide, as well as towards cemented carbide applications with complex geometry.
Practically
this means that metal cutting tools which today are manufactured from steel
bars, could be replaced with the hybrid carbide, making it possible to run the
tools much faster, thanks to higher heat resistance. In addition to complex
shapes, it is also possible to produce much larger components in one piece,
with Vibenite® 480, than with traditional cemented carbide technique. This increases
the number of possible applications and makes it easy to manufacture
prototypes; you can print 1, 10 or 1000 components from one or more drawings.
The corrosion resistance opens up for components like woodworking tools, paper
knives, or usage in the food industry.
Watch the video about Vibenite® 480!
