BAM opens interactive showroom for 3D printing and digital quality assurance

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) has presented a new interactive showroom for additive manufacturing as part of the QI Digital Forum 2024. This is aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and offers practical insights into modern 3D printing technologies and the possibilities of digital quality assurance.

SMEs often face the challenge of efficiently integrating innovative technologies such as 3D printing into their production processes. The BAM showroom clearly demonstrates how additive manufacturing processes can be integrated into existing workflows, while at the same time using digital approaches to quality assurance to minimize errors and increase production quality.

Visitors to the showroom have the opportunity to experience the entire 3D printing process interactively. One of the stations demonstrates the flow behavior of different types of powder, a crucial step in additive manufacturing. Visitors can also assemble a model in the field of functionally integrated building construction, which illustrates the practical use of 3D printing processes.

One focus of the showroom is on 3D-printed components made from materials such as concrete, metal and ceramics that cannot be produced using traditional manufacturing methods. A turbine blade with complex geometries that increases the efficiency of modern turbines will be highlighted in particular. Another attraction is a 3D-printed heat exchanger developed using algorithms from software company Hyperganic. This exhibit illustrates how advanced design and additive manufacturing can work together to improve product performance.

The showroom also highlights the vast amounts of data generated during 3D printing and quality assurance and offers SMEs insights into how this data can be used to optimize production processes.

BAM President Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne explains at the opening: “Our showroom on additive manufacturing offers SMEs a unique opportunity to discover the latest technologies, evaluate them for their production and develop new ideas in cooperation with BAM. The interactive exhibits bring the complex technological processes closer in a tangible and understandable way.”