Additive manufacturing company SLM Solutions and manufacturing solutions provider, MIMO Technik, have announced a collaboration that is quickly qualifying additive manufacturing (AM) parts and processes for the aerospace industry.
Using SLM machine technology, MIMO Technik has successfully met the material spec performance for ALSi10Mg aluminium powder for Boeing and has done so at increased productivity rates, increasing the value proposition for AM design solutions.
MIMO Technik credits SLM Solutions' open architecture philosophy for enabling them to grow from designing and manufacturing motorsport and racing parts to producing and qualifying AM components for some of the aerospace industry's biggest players.
The company can now qualify materials, processes, and parts for aerospace flight faster than ever before. Thanks to SLM technology, MIMO Technik's process is five to 10 times more productive than the industry benchmark.
Next up on MIMO Technik's roadmap is the qualification of high-strength aluminium alloys on SLM Solutions machines for Boeing.
"SLM Solutions technology enables us to create parts and design processes that are just not possible on any other platform. Their open parameters, open architecture system, and engineering spirit let us refine our processes and create parts to the highest standards in critical systems. From structures to electronics, the entire system is customizable to achieve the needed results. SLM®'s open architecture has been a key component in our success," comments Jonathan Cohen, CEO & Co-founder at MIMO Technik.
Simon Merkt-Schippers, EVP of Product Management at SLM Solutions, comments: "This major qualification proves that MIMO Technik is a leading part manufacturer for the aerospace industry. It is almost unreal what Jonathan is getting out of our machines, resulting in incredible competitive advantages to MIMO Technik. On top of our open architecture, our extensive support for certified serial production comes along with the IQ, OQ, and PQ qualification process. These were key advantages for this joint success and for MIMO Technik's overall accelerated adaption of SLM technology for aerospace."
SLM Solutions' technology was the basis for MIMO Technik's pivot from previously manufacturing polymers to direct metal printing. What started with one SLM 280 in 2014 has evolved into a game-changing AM centre, outfitted with one SLM 125, three SLM 280s, and three SLM 500s.
