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Metal additive manufacturing you can count on

Additure delivers more than just components:
we deliver trust, transparency and a commitment to quality, all underpinned by our extensive knowledge and manufacturing experience.

Discover why our customers choose us.

Key strengths
SERVICES

Feasibility and planning

What does our pre-build and planning process look like?

Initial discussion

The first step we take when working with a new partner is a frank and honest discussion about our capabilities and whether your use case suits Metal AM.

Understanding the top-level business case, we first investigate your application and desired end use. Here, we take your functional requirements and transfer them to a manufacturing plan.

You’ll find out

  • If we’re the right company for you
  • What manufacturing processes & materials we can offer
  • A rough estimation of lead time

You won’t encounter

  • Cost for initial review
  • Accepting a job even if we aren’t the right fit
  • A predetermined solution

Refinement & optimisation

Once you’re happy with our initial plan and ideas, we use our expertise to analyse and refine the manufacturing process.

Most designs and concepts need some reconsideration, so expect some changes at this stage.

Here, you can expect to find out:

  • If your design is suitable for a particular Metal AM technology.
  • If your part is both technically and commercially viable.
  • Where we can add value and still retain the necessary design intent.
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Production planning

This is the most important step of the pre-build process as it maps out our journey to meet your technical requirements and make your design a reality.

Our production planning considers your component’s end-use requirements and its geometric and material quality. We’ll determine the specific manufacturing that guarantees production meets the requirements, ensure the quality of your components at each manufacturing stage, and determine in what order this will happen.

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What are some of the production stages and considerations you could expect to see?

1.

Build setup

This is vital to ensure we meet all geometrical, material, and quality requirements. We will be open and honest about the most suitable way to orientate parts and the potential pitfalls associated with solutions.

2.

Build file generation

A key element of planning is the build file, which turns the CAD geometry into machine code. A vital step, Additure has a unique toolbox for simple and complex build file creation.

3.

Post-machining

Similarly to casting and forging, the manufacturing plan requires the post-machining of a near-net model.

4.

Powder removal

If you’ve designed for LPBF, powder removal requires careful consideration.

5.

Heat treatment

Expect a heat treatment stage for any metal AM process.

6.

Coupon selection, build, removal, and testing

Your requirements may dictate tensile, fatigue, or even powder samples. We will work with you to best meet these requirements through production and the testing phase.

7.

Donor plate

Both technologies build components on a donor plate (substrate), which will need to be removed.

8.

Lead times

Despite popular myth, there are still lead times with metal AM as we still have to navigate purchasing consumables, works schedules and sub-contract operations.

Our production planning primarily considers your component’s end-use requirements, as well as both geometric and material quality. Expect to find out how we will ensure the quality of your components at each manufacturing stage and in what order this will happen.

post-processing

Additure intimately understands post-processing, allowing us to provide accurate lead times and identify potential bottlenecks and subsequent mitigations - all of which will be communicated in a project plan.

Post-processing

These choices guide our forward-thinking and influence our decisions. However, our goal is never to become the designer. This is your job; we’re here to make the design a reality with AM.

Project launch

When you’re happy with our production scheduling and manufacturing plans, we’ll get to work. Expect us to be transparent with any predicted risks and contingencies we find.

As our pre-build process is consultative and collaborative, we’ll ensure a pre-production meeting is held incorporating the entire plan ahead of manufacturing.

Contact us
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Services

Explore the next stage of the process

Visit Our Toolbox to learn more about the technologies and machines we use to create your components.

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Feasibility and Planning

Discover how we’ll break your project down into granular detail and create a joint manufacturing and inspection plan (MQCP).
Toolbox

Toolbox

Explore our two primary technologies: Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM).
CNC

Post-Processing

Understand how we approach this crucial stage, and learn why post-processing is vital for metal additive manufacturing.
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Inspection

For metal AM parts, this is never just geometrical inspection; all aspects of material testing and component validation can be accommodated.