With 3D printing technology you can print custom three-dimensional parts on location. But what properties do large metal objects such as ship propellers acquire when you print them? How do you ensure that an object made up of layers does not deform, crack or rust in unexpected places? Within the research program AiM2XL, these questions are being addressed with a large consortium. This research is funded by the Perspective instrument.
This video is about the collaboration in the consortium of AiM2XL and what this can bring to researchers and users. In the video, Fred van Keulen, a research engineer from Damen, and Margot Weijnen (chair of NWO Domain AES) speak.
Studying properties of printed material
Within the research program AiM2XL, researchers look at printed metal objects between 1 and 10 meters in size. They study the properties of the printed material down to the micro level and create models that enable them to predict and control the behavior of the entire object. The researchers then run these models on printed example objects, such as a strong steel lifting eye for thick steel cables and a ship's rudder made of stainless steel.
AiM2XL is a large consortium of researchers and companies researching the 3D printing of large and innovative metal objects. An example is an innovative ship's rudder, which was placed under a ship by participant Damen Shipyards.
