Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing refers to processes in which material is applied layer by layer to produce three-dimensional components from one or more liquid or solid materials under computer control without the use of tools. Additive manufacturing is currently mostly used in the production of prototypes, small series and complex geometries.
Die casting is a process for manufacturing complex and predominantly thin-walled components from low-melting light metals. The costs for die casting molds are high and production is time-consuming. Molds are often produced using machining processes and have to be reworked.
Even the fastest additive manufacturing process cannot (yet) keep up with the process speed of die casting. The use of additive technologies in series production is often not worthwhile from an economic point of view, especially for large quantities of components whose complexity can be represented in die casting.
In the lecture series and panel discussion "Additive manufacturing in die casting - competition or useful addition?", experts will explain why the use of additive manufacturing can still make sense for die casting foundries.
