GEFERTEC GmbH has presented the new GTarc machining centre during the EMO show in Hanover. The revolutionary 3DMP® technology was presented to the public for the first time. This new additive manufacturing technology enables the cost-efficient and fast production of near-net-shape metal parts. Quality of the parts is comparable to standard manufacturing methods. The 3DMP® technology is based on well-proven electric arc welding and is therefore using wire as original material, so the final part is formed welding layer by welding layer. This new method offers a range of advantages compared to other additive manufacturing technologies, which are based on powder as original material. For example, there is no elaborate powder handling, and most standard materials are available as wire at significantly lower prices. The main benefit is the high production speed, which can be up to 600 cm³ per hour depending on the material. This is why the machining centre is ideally suited for the production of larger parts made of steel, nickel, titanium, or aluminium.
The GTarc machining centre, which was presented during the show for the first time, is available as a 3-axis version for parts up to 3 m³ and as a 5-axis version for parts up to 0.8 m³. A special 3DMP® CAM software calculates the data out of the CAD-modelled part, which enables the CNC-control unit to position the welding head with high precision. The machine produces the near-netshape part fully automatically. The finishing of the part is done by standard CNC milling machine. Compared to other manufacturing methods 3DMP® has a maximum material utilisation, which leads to substantial cost savings, especially when expensive materials like titanium are used. Depending on the application manufacturing costs decrease up to 60 %. The GTarc machine is built in a modular way, making future upgrades very easy. For example, customers can upgrade the 3-axis version with a pan-tilt-table to obtain the 5-axis version. Prices of the new GTarc machining centres are in the range of a smaller CNC milling machine and are considerably lower than comparable machines for 3D printing.
At the Siemens plant in Bad Neustadt, Germany, GTarc is already in use to produce housings for individual electric motors. Bad Neustadt is one of the most modern plants, where Siemens demonstrates the possibilities of the Smart Factory concept in industrial production.
