Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has experienced widespread growth in our understanding and curiosity. It has reached an inflection point that is on full display in the Additive Manufacturing Sector, accelerated by Formnext at IMTS.In its early phases, metal AM focused on prototyping and low-volume, high-value production. With technology available now, AM implementation has expanded to include mainstream, medium-volume, cost-effective production. As engineers design for AM, they open more applications in the medical, aerospace, and defense industries, which are core markets for IMTS attendees.“AM technology providers are driving industrialization, process reliability, output, consistency, and ease of use,” says Glynn Fletcher, president of EOS North America, the leading provider of laser powder bed fusion technology. “We are also driving down cost per part through improved process speed and material costs.”With the shift from specialization to production, AM has become a fully integrated process, and that makes IMTS a must-attend event for OEMs and job shops that want to expand or explore how to integrate AM into their machining operations. “IMTS is a complete manufacturing show,” says Jim Hockey, director of business development at Incodema3D, a contract manufacturer producing metal AM components. “We have blended additive and conventional machining methodologies for repeatable, dependable production.”A tour of Incodema3D’s facility in Freeville, New York, is a microcosm of IMTS. A short list of capabilities includes:Additive Manufacturing: 23 laser powder bed fusion systems from EOS and metal powders from EOS, 6K Additive, and GE Additive.Metal Removal: 10 machining centers from Haas, six wire EDMs from Mitsubishi, and a Mazak i700 Variaxis machining center with a Palletech system for unattended operation. The Mazak system was purchased as a result of vendor evaluation conducted at IMTS.Quality Assurance: A Zeiss Contura CMM and Comet 3D blue light vision system.“We visit more areas of IMTS than ever before,” says Hockey, who has attended the show since the early 2000s. “At IMTS, we explore AI and more robotics to elevate our internal processes.”Looking Around the CornerIMTS showcases a broad view of the end-to-end production process of AM, from materials and machinery to software and service bureaus. “Companies face challenges in cost-effective manufacturing, scaling production, and a gap in innovation expertise,” says Emily Elpes, chief of staff and vice president of marketing for 3DEO, an IMTS exhibitor and inventor of the Intelligent Layering® metal AM process. “IMTS is the place where OEMs and contract manufacturers can go to close their knowledge, production, and cost gaps to move their businesses forward.”Between the expertise and resources available at IMTS, the integration of AM into mainstream manufacturing will continue to accelerate.
As AM shifts from specialization to production, IMTS is a must-attend for OEMs and job shops looking to expand or integrate AM into their machining operations.