OPERATIONS

Lighter tooling places less stress on the mechanical systems, like motors, bearings and joints, that carry it. Reduced mechanical stress translates into longer component life and fewer unplanned stoppages.

At BMW Group Plant Landshut in Bavaria, additive manufacturing has been embedded in day-today production for many years. One long-standing application involves sand-based 3D printing, a process in which thin layers of sand are bonded together with chemical binders to create moulds. These moulds are then filled with liquefied aluminium to produce components such as cylinder heads.

Klaus Sammer, Head of Product and Process Planning for Light Metal Casting, explains:“ This technology is typically used to manufacture prototype casts, as well as for the large-scale production of components for high-performance motors.”