Honeywell-SLM Solutions Collaboration Bearing Fruit 

As part of a collaboration launched in 2019, Honeywell began qualification efforts for aluminum builds using an increased layer thickness of 60 and 90 μm on its quad-laser SLM500 Selective Laser Melting Machine by SLM Solutions (SLM), which provided generic aluminum parameter sets for Honeywell to complete material qualification to achieve optimal material properties.

The development of these new parameter sets for aluminum alloy F357 using a layer thickness of 60 μm and 700 W lasers has now reached an important milestone. Material properties have significantly increased in comparison to conventional die-cast parts and are now exceeding overall acknowledged metallic properties for aerospace.

Aluminum alloy F357 is not only lightweight but offers a significantly better corrosion resistance and desired mechanical properties, says SLM, such as high-strength across a wide temperature range in comparison to conventional aluminum alloys. It has a great weldability and excellent suitability for post-processing, like mechanical machining or electrochemical such as anodizing.

This combination of properties enables F357 to be perfectly suited for thin-walled and complex structures in, for example, the aerospace or automotive industries.

“In particular, the open architecture system of the [SLM500] machine provides huge advantages like high flexibility and parameter sets can be customized,” says Dr. Sören Wiener, senior director, Technology and Advanced Operations at Honeywell Aerospace. “With this open access strategy and the great support of SLM Solutions, we step forward to achieving our next goals.”

Benjamin Haas, product manager for Materials & Parameters at SLM Solutions adds, “It is a privilege to work together with one of the leading companies in the aerospace world. This way, we can learn a lot from each other leading to perfectly suited, industry proven solutions from which all of our customers can benefit.”

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