Additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing)
Lining and maintenance of sintering furnaces, HIP plants (hot isostatic pressing) and heat treatment furnaces for the additive manufacturing of metallic components. Enables densification, stress-relief annealing and microstructure optimisation of 3D-printed parts.
Additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing)
Application scenarios
Additively manufactured metal components only achieve their final material properties through thermal post-processing. Sintering, hot isostatic pressing and heat treatment are process-critical steps that require precisely controlled furnace atmospheres and temperature profiles.
SBS Refractory Service supplies the refractory infrastructure for these thermal processes: furnace linings that reliably withstand temperatures of up to 1,400 °C under vacuum or inert gas while meeting the highest purity requirements.
Additive manufacturing opens up new possibilities for the defence industry: complex geometries, spare parts on demand and decentralised production. Furnace technology is the decisive link between the printed blank and the deployable component.
At a glance
- High-purity furnace atmosphere (vacuum or inert gas) for contamination-free processes
- Temperature uniformity to AMS 2750 class 1 or 2
- Batch traceability of all refractory materials
- Matching of the lining to the specific powder materials
- Regular calibration and requalification of the furnace systems
- Documentation in accordance with the quality requirements of the aerospace and defence industry
How we work on Additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing)
Proven methods and specialised equipment for optimal results.
Sintering furnace lining
Refractory lining of vacuum and inert gas sintering furnaces for MIM and binder jetting components. High-purity materials prevent carbon and oxygen contamination during the sintering process.
HIP plant service
Maintenance and lining of hot isostatic presses. The refractory lining must permanently withstand both temperatures of up to 1,400 °C and pressures of up to 200 MPa.
Heat treatment after printing
Lining of furnaces for stress-relief annealing, solution annealing and ageing of additively manufactured components. Precise temperature control is decisive for the resulting material properties.
Debinding furnace lining
Special linings for the thermal debinding of MIM and binder jetting green parts. The lining must withstand binder outgassing and be easy to clean.
Step by step to the result
Structured, transparent and on schedule — this is how we work.
Defining the process requirements
Matching the refractory design to the material, process and quality requirements.
Analysis of the powder materials (Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 718, 316L), sintering profiles and atmosphere requirements. Definition of the permissible contamination limits and temperature uniformity.
Material selection & qualification
Selection and testing of the refractory materials for the specific additive manufacturing process.
Testing for outgassing behaviour, purity and compatibility with the process atmosphere. Material certificates and batch traceability.
Lining & commissioning
Installation of the refractory lining and validation of furnace performance.
Professional installation, controlled drying, heat-up curve. Temperature uniformity survey (TUS) in accordance with AMS 2750. Calibration record.
Validation & component testing
Verification of the process results using sample components.
Sintering/HIP of reference components, testing of density, microstructure and mechanical properties. Correlation with process parameters for optimisation.
Ongoing maintenance & requalification
Scheduled inspection and periodic requalification of the furnace system.
Regular repeat TUS, inspection of the refractory lining, replacement of wear zones. Documentation in accordance with NADCAP requirements.
Material flows in Additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing)
Proper separation, recovery and disposal of all resulting materials.
Ti-6Al-4V (titanium grade 5)
The most widely used titanium alloy in additive manufacturing. Sintering at 1,200–1,350 °C under high vacuum. Requires a contamination-free furnace lining.
Inconel 718 (nickel-based)
Superalloy for operating temperatures of up to 700 °C. Heat treatment (solution annealing + double ageing) is process-critical for the mechanical properties.
Molybdenum heating elements
Refractory metal heating elements for operation up to 1,700 °C under vacuum. The refractory lining must prevent molybdenum oxidation by means of leak-free vacuum containment.
High-purity Al₂O₃ ceramic plates
Non-reactive setter plates for the sintering process. They prevent adhesion and contamination of the components. Reusable after cleaning.
Application scenarios
Typical situations in which Additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing) is used.
Building up sintering capacity for additive series production
Heat treatment of complex 3D-printed engine and structural components
HIP densification of additively manufactured titanium and nickel alloys
Decentralised spare parts production using mobile sintering and heat treatment furnaces
Qualification of new powder materials for additive manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing)
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