Siemens, EDAG to jointly ready 3D printing for series production
Siemens and EDAG have developed an intelligent modular system called NextGeneration Spaceframe 2.0 in order to come closer to this goal of more efficient processes in engineering and production. It consists of a combination of bionically designed and additive-manufactured nodes and high-strength, energy-absorbing aluminum strand profiles for 3D printing, as the additive manufacturing process is also called. The concept offers an extremely flexible production in order to be able to represent the increasing number of vehicle derivatives from an economic point of view.
The cooperation has now been extended by a continuous digital engineering process chain for AM up to the realization of a use case. The project result, which will be presented at the Hanover Fair, was developed under EDAG leadership and Siemens together with Constellium, Fraunhofer IAPT, Concept Laser and BLM. A flexibly producible lightweight aluminium structure “NextGenSpaceframe 2.0” will be shown as an automotive “use case” for Siemens.
The NextGenSpaceframe 2.0 is intended to enable customers to achieve a shorter time-to-market for additively manufactured prototype and small series components through a digital engineering process chain. The focus is on parts for the automotive industry.
Calculations and real-world tests have shown that the crash areas can absorb the crash energy as predicted and that the AM node does not fail structurally. Process optimisation and targeted minimisation of the support structure have made it possible to reduce costs.
In Siemens’ opinion, the cooperation with the know-how of the EDAG Group will enable tailor-made future factory concepts to be developed in order to efficiently manufacture the components developed for additive manufacturing in larger series and to transfer them into genuine series production. The experience of Siemens in factory automation and digitization with the knowledge gained from its own production in the gas turbine sector (Finspang and Worchester UK) and the know-how of EOS GmbH in the field of process technology in additive manufacturing are incorporated here.
At the Hanover Fair, Siemens is now showing the first steps towards successfully shaping this transformation using a “digital twin”. In addition to the actual printing, this also includes the industrialization of the entire AM production chain with all subsequent process steps. In the future, scalable kits will be created here to pave the way from small series to mass production.
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