Project description
3D printing of high-quality metal parts in manufacturing lines
The design limitations and high tooling costs of casting and injection moulding make them unsuitable for manufacturing a customisable short series of complex parts. Additive manufacturing (AM) is expected to address this need with faster production times while keeping down costs per part. However, high set-up costs, lengthy manual post-processing and unpredictable defects in final products are preventing the full adoption of AM in the manufacturing of final products. As a solution, the EU-funded LMM project proposes lithography-based metal manufacturing (LMM). LMM is an innovative automated AM machine that can 3D-print any metal parts of any design with unparalleled accuracy. LMM can be easily used in existing metal injection moulding manufacturing lines, thereby reducing total production costs and time.
Objective
The typical use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) for metals is to produce prototypes during product development and complex parts for pilot series. Whereas established industrial methods such as Metal Injection Molding (MIM) are used for the production of complex metal parts in high volumes. The design limitations and high tooling costs for casting or injection moulding also make conventional manufacturing unsuitable for customizable short series production of parts with high geometric complexity. AM is expected to address this need by speeding the production time without inflating the costs per part especially for applications such as dental restoration, aerospace, and automobiles. Despite a large need, high set-up costs, lengthy manual post-processing and unpredictable defects in final parts and products are preventing complete deployment and adoption of AM in the manufacturing of final products.
Lithoz offers Lithography-based Metal Manufacturing (LMM), an innovative automated AM machine for 3D printing of advanced, high-quality metal products. Thanks to a proprietary ground-breaking AM technology, LMM enables to print any metal parts with any design and provides unequaled accuracy and quality of the final product. LMM can be easily implemented into existing Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) manufacturing lines without the need for dedicated postprocessing machinery and specialized expertise, thus enabling to reduce total production costs and time.
During the phase 1 feasibility study, Lithoz will establish a sound go-to-market strategy and supply chain and will outline further development plans. During the innovation project, Lithoz will optimize the machine and printing process, validate it with partners in the MIM manufacturing industry, and obtain CE mark and regulatory compliance.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
1060 Wien
Austria
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.