6 Innovations From the Additive Manufacturing Pavilion at IMTS 2022

IMTS 2022 was buzzing with excitement over the newest AM innovations — from hybrid technologies to specialty applications and new printing methods. One thing is clear: AM is empowering manufacturers to imagine new possibilities for their customers, leading to more opportunities in specialty markets.  

“AM technology exists today for us to be manufacturing lot size one. It is no longer mass production. It is mass customization,” says Barbara Humpton, president and CEO for Siemens Corp., at the IMTS+ Main Stage.

The Additive Manufacturing Pavilion at IMTS 2022 featured 110 additive manufacturing exhibitors covering more than 100,000 square feet of floor space. These companies demonstrated a comprehensive range of new AM hardware, software and materials. Here are just a few advanced AM technology companies that piqued a lot of interest at the show.

1. Flexible additive/subtractive/inspection hybrid systems

Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies offers additive, subtractive and inspection solutions as a single OEM hybrid solution through more than 10 machine tool manufacturers. This combined approach provides a system that’s more flexible and uses a smaller footprint than separate, dedicated machines for high-mix, low-volume part needs. Plus, multiple hybrid systems enable for line balancing to increase production responsiveness and reduce processing bottlenecks. The integrated capability, which includes laser-based directed energy deposition (DED) and/or polymer extrusion additive processes, is best suited for finishing or repairing high-value parts.

2. Print with high-viscosity resins for parts with expanded functionality 
Fortify uses a process called Digital Composite Manufacturing (DCM), which prints high-viscosity composite resins with aligned reinforcing fibers. The company has taken one of the most prevalent 3D printing processes — vat photopolymerization (VP) — and expanded upon the concept to make functional parts with variable thermal, electrical and mechanical properties. Applications for parts produced with DCM range from injection mold soft tooling to high-performance thermal, electrostatic discharge and radio frequency components. 

3. Low-heat metal bonding 
Fabrisonic has developed and offers hybrid sheet lamination (SL) equipment, leveraging the company’s ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) process integrated with machining capabilities. The company’s metal SL solutions use ultrasonic vibration with minimal heat to bond materials. This low-temperature process enables Fabrisonic to bond different metals that are otherwise difficult to combine using traditional methods. The technology has found notable success in electric vehicle, space and defense applications. 

4. Lower cost laser printing for small companies
Xact Metal has introduced laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) printers at a lower price point than others, making AM accessible to smaller companies. Thanks to simpler laser technology in its smaller models, the mid-five-figure price range is a fraction of traditional LPBF systems that start in the low- to mid-six figures. Xact Metal has demonstrated the importance of price and value when adopting a new AM process for the first time. Its LPBF systems are best suited for prototyping and mold/tool development.

5. Closed-loop printing for tight specifications, soft polymer parts
Inkbit  is a material jetting (MJ) technology developer that offers materials, hardware and software for its vision-controlled jetting process. Based on technology similar to household 2D inkjet printers and combined with UV light, Inkbit’s process cures individual layers before being inspected by the machine vision system. The process incorporates a closed feedback loop that compares individual layer heights to the part design and can adjust deposition in subsequent layers to better meet part specifications. Inkbit specializes in soft polymer parts for use as seals, grippers and skin contact applications.

6. Fast printing for high-precision, production-grade tools
Mantle has developed a process that combines CNC machining with metal paste extrusion specifically designed for tooling insert applications. The company’s technology makes high-precision, production-grade tools in a faster time frame than traditional approaches can make them today. Mantle represents a trend toward companies finely tuning their AM technology to meet the needs of specific applications.

The explosion of innovative technology at the AM Pavilion at IMTS 2022 is a sign of things to come. No doubt AM will play an important part in the interdisciplinary future of the manufacturing technology industry. 

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More AM Events to Come

AMT and Gardner Business Media have collaborated with Mesago (the organizers of Formnext) and Messe Frankfurt Inc. to launch:

• Formnext Forum Austin - Aug. 28-30, 2023 – More at FormnextForum.com
• Formnext Forum - Sept. 9-14, 2024 (co-located at IMTS 2024 in Chicago)
• Formnext Chicago - April 8-10, 2025