Arcam AB fka AMAVF

[Nobahamas]

LPT1, 2, 3: It's all about price / quality.

We all know that production by SLM will give better product qualities than production by EBM.
(accuracy and Surface finish)
The production time of SLM is approximately 100% longer than EBM.
Productivity has a direct relation with the price per produced product.
What will the costprice per blade be produced by EBM versus SLM?

Costs are: machining time; the costs of the used production system per time unit.base material, power, inert gases (when needed). handling(hands), finishing, quality control,

Suppose, when produced by EBM, the percentages of the total cost per product are:
machining time 68%, base material 20%, power 5%, handling 5%, finishing and quality control 2%.
When produced by SLM, most of the costs are the same, eccept for the machining time, that is doubled!
So producing by SLM is roughly 68% more expensive.

In my believe, within the quality limits EBM is the first choice.
When product-quality demands are out of the limits of EBM, SLM will be the next choice.

For example take a look at Linear Mold & engineering.
A big player in 3D printing, they do a lot of prototyping, very small series of products.
All what they use is DMLS and SLM systems (the best quality / everyting is possible).
Companies that that use AM for larger series have EBM systems as well (limited in quality, but the price is much better)

SLM / EBM
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/828a36d1-9eed-46e3-8606-ff3293422d08-141223034123-conversion-gate01/95/selective-laser-melting-versus-electron-beam-melting-17-638.jpg?cb=1419327770
Linear Mold & Engineering
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20151204-moog-buys-stake-in-metal-3d-printing-firm-linear-mold-and-engineering.html
Moog / linear Mold
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20160113-moog-us-air-forces-contract-to-advance-launch-vehicle-booster-tech-metal-3d-printing.html