Arcam EBM fabrication

19 10 2009

I’m exploring the Arcam EBM process for fabricating the magrid.

Our current scale is within their build envelope (250 x 250 x 400 mm and 350 x 350 x 250 mm).

Their process creates a fully solid / fully melted part using Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy.

Titanium is non magnetic (paramagnetic). GOOD

Titanium has low outgassing (I _assume_). Not seeing good information on this, but I see articles about low outgassing. GOOD

The fully melted part should be vacuum tight. GOOD

Titanium can be welded, but it’s complicated. Gas shielding is required. WORKABLE

Titanium is difficult to machine. It requires specialized tools. It’s tough and springy. Too hot and it reacts chemically. The magrid part is likely too delicate to be secured for machining. We can still lap sand the faces for better mating. BAD/WORKABLE.

Titanium is strong. GOOD

Titanium is beautiful. GOOD

The part would be highly conformal. I do not expect the warping as with the prometal magrid. GOOD

Price. This same part would cost around $2500. Better get it right the first time. WORKABLE

Although it’s a path fraught with peril, it could lead to a fully functional superconducting magrid.


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7 responses

19 10 2009
Giorgio

Nice process! With a tolerance of around 0,3 / 0,4 mm it will not be that hard to sandpaper the pieces to make a good match.

If the price is within your budget I believe this is a good solution.

Giorgio.

19 10 2009
FAMULUS

Yeah. I’m pretty excited about the possibility. I could afford to do one. That’s a ballpark quote, waiting for actual quote.

20 10 2009
Giorgio

Did you get any quotation for the Stainless steel casting option?

20 10 2009
FAMULUS

“We do not produce stainless steel components and currently have no plan to
produce stainless.”

22 10 2009
ike

dont forget to redesign the protruding nubs

22 10 2009
FAMULUS

I need help with this. Best info on funny cusps I’ve found:
http://www.talk-polywell.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1317&sid=d17ecac31c8ad8ba6572660eb29e58c8

26 07 2011
New Materials for Electron Beam Melting « Prometheus Fusion Perfection

[…] I looked into Arcam’s 3D Metal process. At the time, Arcam’s Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy seemed the best […]

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