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The Clip Fam project (characterization of the powder bed for metal additive manufacturing) funded by the Normandy Region and the European Union, revolves around a Norman consortium: Analyzes & Surface (27), ArianeGroup, Cevaa (76) , Crismat (14), GPM (76), Insa Rouen Normandie, LMN (76), NAE and Volum-e (76). Clip Fam will provide a better understanding of the role played by the characteristics of the powder bed on the general properties of metal parts obtained in additive manufacturing.
metal additive manufacturing (FAM) is identified as a key technology: unlike the manufacture of parts by removal of material, metal additive manufacturing makes it possible to produce complex shapes with flexible series. It is now estimated that the global market for this recent technology is growing at around 20% per year. It is therefore essential that France remains in the competition with regard to this technology.
A challenge: the qualification of the powder for the production of quality parts and to ensure productivity gains
The functional properties of the metal alloys obtained in additive manufacturing are strongly dependent on the general parameters of the process through the microstructure of the material produced. Thus, the presence of porosities, of a crystallographic or morphological texture, the presence of zones of unmelted material, the residual stresses resulting from thermal gradients are all factors that can adversely affect the mechanical properties of parts obtained in FAM compared to a conventional production. by casting. These various defects are partly linked to the characteristics of the powder used during manufacture.
At the present time, the characterization of the powder is not representative of the reality of the process and is relatively expensive. The development of a realistic and simple characterization tool for powder qualification in metal additive manufacturing (Clip Fam) would allow a better understanding of the impact of powder quality on parts.
Clip Fam project has started on 1 December and should be completed in late March 2022. During this period, 4 deliverables are expected:
· Develop a method for characterizing the scalability of metallic powders for additive manufacturing (test bench);
· Reinforce the modeling of the stallability in order to anticipate an optimal production;
· Evaluate the impact of a powder with good / bad spreadability on the produced part;
· Support the emergence of a specific powder standard (scalability component).
Already selected by the General Directorate of Enterprises (DGE) to promote and inform national companies of the evolution of standardization on additive manufacturing, Normandie AeroEspace will step up this action within the framework of this project and will support the overall coordination of the project. Analyzes et Surface will be in charge of piloting batch 1, which aims to characterize the spreadability of the powders. This batch is carried out in partnership with Cevaa, LMN and ArianeGroup. It also aims to model the scalability of powders and improve the understanding of the phenomenon on the basis of key parameters. The GPM will be in charge of piloting lot 2, which must characterize and compare several parts from different additive manufacturing processes, a lot carried out in partnership with all the players, including Crismat, Volum-e and ArianeGroup who will provide the test specimens for test.
ArianeGroup will pilot batch 3 in order to assess the impact of a powder with good / bad spreadability on the part produced. Then, Volum-e in charge of lot 4 on standardization will promote the work of the standardization committees and feed the discussions with the results of the project.
The Clip Fam project is a unifying project and a first step in the structuring of additive manufacturing players in Normandy. Positioned on a technological maturity level 4, it will allow a better understanding of the parameters related to additive manufacturing under representative conditions and a wide dissemination of knowledge through standardization.
Find out more: www.nae.fr
