Award Recognizes Advancements in Additive Manufacturing of Hardmetals
Vincent Müller has been awarded the 2024 New Materials Innovation Award for his exceptional bachelor’s thesis on the Additive Manufacturing (AM) of hardmetals. His research, titled “Erforschung der Prozessparameter für den Filamentdruck von porenfreien Bauteilen aus Hartmetall” (“Research into the Process Parameters for Filament Printing of Non-Porous Hardmetal Components”), focuses on refining the key parameters needed for successful filament printing of hardmetal parts, particularly non-porous components. This research holds significant promise for improving the industrial manufacturing of hardmetal parts through 3D printing technologies.
Collaborative Effort with Industry Leaders
Müller’s thesis was supervised by experts from Universität Bayreuth, including Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Tremmel and Dr.-Ing. Tobias Rosnitschek, alongside Dr.-Ing. Dehua Chen from Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH. The project was also supported by key industry partners, Klaus Trott from GMtec and Peter Würtele, whose real-world experience helped align the research with the practical needs of industry.
The project was funded by the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection) under the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs, providing vital support for innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. This collaboration between academia and industry bridges the gap between research and real-world application, fostering the development of advanced AM techniques for hardmetal production.
Impact on Hardmetal Manufacturing and Industry Applications
Müller’s work addresses critical challenges in producing hardmetal components with AM, an area that has seen growing interest due to its potential to reduce material waste and improve production efficiency. Hardmetals are widely used in industries requiring high durability, such as aerospace, automotive, and industrial manufacturing, where parts need to withstand extreme wear and tear. Traditional methods of manufacturing these components are often time-consuming and expensive, but AM offers new possibilities for streamlined, cost-effective production.
By focusing on optimizing the process parameters for filament printing, Müller’s research could lead to the ability to produce dense, high-performance hardmetal components with greater precision, fewer defects, and less material waste. These advances can transform manufacturing processes, making them more efficient and environmentally friendly.
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