Penn State’s CIMP-3D recently demonstrated its capabilities for large format multi-laser powder bed fusion by fabricating three large aluminum components representative of fittings on industrial-scale piping systems. Working alongside 3D Systems, the entire production process was executed from start-to-finish, including: design-for-AM, fabrication, post-processing, and inspection.
Compliant mechanisms enable engineered motion, force transmission, and energy absorption without linkages or assemblies. Dr. Jared Butler (PSU ME) has been developing compliant mechanisms for a wide range of applications, and with doctoral student Connor Huxman, has recently turned his attention to medical applications. One exciting development they’re pioneering is compliant bone plates1,2, which promote healing in comminuted fractures by enabling prescribed axial strain while preventing shear. These compliant mechanisms are typically cut from sheet, but CIMP-3D teamed up with Dr. Butler to fabricate a Ti6Al4V version of this compliant mechanism using powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (3D Systems ProX 320).