Joining Technologies Partners with Fraunhofer on Laser Additive Manufacturing
The partnership creates a new division that uses enhanced laser additive manufacturing for repair or restoration in aerospace, power generation, valve, and OEM-supplied component applications.
Posted: March 23, 2011
The partnership creates a new division that uses enhanced laser additive manufacturing for repair or restoration in aerospace, power generation, valve, and OEM-supplied component applications.
Joining Technologies (East Granby, CT), an innovator in laser cladding, electron beam and laser welding applications, announces that it has launched a new laser additive manufacturing division, and entered into a formal cooperation agreement with world-renowned laser development and contract research institute Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT).
The resulting partnership, Joining Technologies Research Center (JTRC), was showcased at the Laser Institute of America (LIA) 3rd annual Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM) Workshop, held February 16-17, 2011 in Houston, TX.
As part of JTRC, Fraunhofer ILT will be providing laser additive manufacturing research and development services, as well as system design and integration and accessory sales, including nozzles and cladding heads, all from its new facility in East Granby, CT.
“Our new partnership with Fraunhofer ILT will provide numerous benefits to customers,” said Scott Poeppel, Joining Technologies’ manager of additive processes. “Combining the precision and reliability of Joining Technologies’ laser cladding processes with ILT’s cutting edge laser additive research and development capabilities offers customers enhanced information on using laser additive manufacturing for repair or restoration in aerospace, power generation, valve, and OEM-supplied component applications.”
Tailor-made laser additive manufacturing solutions are being developed for direct photonic production from CAD data to a part made from serial materials; maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of high value components; and wear and corrosion protection.
Dr. Ingo Kelbassa, vice and academic director of LLT, RWTH Aachen University and head of the RWTH LLT department at Fraunhofer ILT, expects the JTRC partnership will offer a range of services from feasibility studies via process development, validation and certification, to systems engineering and system integration of a final industrial implementation at a customer’s site.
“By using such process-specific advantages as nearly unrestricted geometrical freedom, material freedom and achievable thermo-mechanical properties of the parts built-up, it is possible to manufacture parts designed specifically for their function,” said Dr. Kelbassa. “Laser additive manufacturing can therefore be considered as the key enabler for the green manufacturing of new and future generation parts.”
Dr. Kelbassa is also the responsible representative of LLT, RWTH Aachen University for basic and fundamental cooperative R&D initiatives in China as well as Fraunhofer ILT’s representative for cooperative applied science projects in North America and Australia.
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology is an internationally known laser development and contract research institute with more than 250 employees and 10,000m² of usable floor space, fitted out with the latest technical and scientific infrastructure and equipment. It focuses on the development of new laser beam sources and components, the use of modern laser measurement and testing technology, and laser-supported manufacturing. It is also working in the area of laser plant technology and process control.
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