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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6

3D PRINTSHOP

BAMBOO BOOSTS

SUSTAINABILITY

Researchers at Oak Ridge Nation-

al Laboratory, Tenn., are using bamboo

fiber in 3D-printing experiments to de-

termine whether bio-based feedstock

materials are feasible in additive manu-

facturing. Chopped bamboo fibers were

added to a bio-polymer resin to create

bamboo-based pellets, resulting in a

more sustainable material that can be

used for manufacturing molds, proto-

types, appliances, and furniture. In one

experiment, a table that contains 10%

bamboo fiber composite was 3D-print-

ed. “We are investigating the use of

different types of cellulose fibers to

develop feedstock materials with bet-

ter mechanical performance that can

increase the number of available com-

posites and opportunities for sustain-

able practices,” explains Soydan Ozcan,

R&D scientist.

For more information:

Soydan Ozcan, 865.241.2158, ozcans@

ornl.gov,

www.ornl.gov

.

ALCOA OPENS METAL

POWDER FACILITY

Alcoa Inc., Pittsburgh, recently

opened a state-of-the-art, 3D-printing

metal powder production facility. Lo-

cated at the Alcoa Technology Center

near Pittsburgh, the company will pro-

duce titanium, nickel, and alu-

minum powders optimized for

3D-printed aerospace parts. Al-

coa has also invested in a range

of technologies to further

develop additive processes,

product design, and qualifi-

cation. The facility will form

part of Arconic following

separation from Alcoa’s tra-

ditional commodity busi-

ness in the second half of

2016. The plant is part of

a $60 million investment

in advanced 3D-printing

materials and processes

that builds on the company’s

capabilities in California, Geor-

gia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and

Texas. In addition to producing pow-

ders, Alcoa is focused on advancing a

range of additive techniques, including

its Ampliforge process that combines

additive and traditional manufacturing.

With this new technique, a nearly com-

plete 3D part is printed then finished

with another process such as forging.

alcoa.com.

PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP

COMPUTING TOOLS

A new collaboration between

Ansys Inc., Pittsburgh, and the Uni-

versity of Pittsburgh (Pitt) aims to

solve some of the industry’s toughest

additive manufacturing (AM) problems.

Printing metal is particularly challeng-

ing because it involves lasers, which op-

timize density but can also melt metal

in unexpected ways. In addition, rapid

heating and cooling creates stresses

that can deform the end product. Ansys

and Pitt are working together to simu-

late those deformations before printing

to ensure products have the desired

shape and perform as expected. As part

of the collaboration, the university is

opening a 1200-sq-ft Ansys Additive

Manufacturing Research Laboratory

in the Swanson School of Engineering.

The new facility will also support fac-

ulty and students conducting collab-

orative research with Ansys and other

industry partners, including those in

the biomedical, aerospace, and defense

industries. Lab workers will have access

to a variety of Ansys software, enabling

them to explore, simulate, and analyze

solutions for stress and fatigue on criti-

cal components designed for the auto-

motive, aerospace, and medical device

industries.

ansys.com.

A 3D-printed table was manufactured

using 10% bamboo fiber, an initial step

toward sustainable practices using

bio-derivedmaterials.

Alcoa opened a state-of-the-art, 3D-

printing metal powder production

facility located at the Alcoa Technology

Center near Pittsburgh. Courtesy of

Business Wire.