UK-based DEEP Manufacturing Restricted, which focuses on precision manufacturing options like subsea tools, has unveiled a brand new robotic AM system that might assist overcome a few of the most fixed and costly manufacturing challenges within the vitality, maritime, and offshore sectors. The HexBot is a six-arm, synchronized, wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) platform that units a brand new benchmark for extremely large-scale steel components manufacturing. In these three industries, precision, scale, and velocity are of essential significance, and so they may benefit vastly from the brand new HexBot.
The corporate was launched earlier this 12 months by the worldwide ocean engineering and know-how firm DEEP as a specialist division. DEEP develops next-generation underwater strain vessels that assist subsea human habitats, and these vessels want large-scale, precision, personalized elements. So the corporate selected WAAM know-how, which makes use of an electrical arc to soften wire feedstock to make sure the next stage of fabric high quality. DEEP says that WAAM can assist the next diploma of design complexity and obtain greater manufacturing speeds than conventional strategies like forging. That’s why it invested in one of many world’s most concentrated and superior WAAM operations, which is housed at DEEP Manufacturing’s Superior Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Avonmouth, Bristol.
With its six robotic arms, the brand new DEEP Manufacturing HexBot system affords new manufacturing capabilities that deal with ongoing challenges with operations and engineering. When operated independently, HexBot’s arms can produce metallic components as much as 3 meters in diameter. However when the complete configuration of all six arms operates in unison, the system can print complicated, high-integrity elements as much as 3.2 meters in peak and 6.2 meters in diameter. As the corporate says, HexBot is ready to supply a stage of customization, scale, and velocity “by no means achieved earlier than.”
CEO Peter Richards
“HexBot pushes the boundaries of what’s attainable in extremely large-scale additive manufacturing, providing velocity, scale, and customisation on a stage by no means achieved earlier than,” mentioned CEO Peter Richards.
“It is a uniquely succesful system backed by our world-class technical experience – one which’s not solely delivering on DEEP’s imaginative and prescient but in addition contributing to the development of producing as a complete.
“It’s a difficult and unsure time for a lot of industries, however advances in know-how – significantly additive manufacturing, and extra particularly WAAM – have the potential to empower firms not simply to outlive, however to thrive in tough situations.”
The versatile HexBot system has been used to print every little thing from structural components for offshore wind platforms to shipbuilding and subsea vitality infrastructure purposes. Whereas DEEP Manufacturing was initially launched to fulfill DEEP’s inner calls for, its options have been confirmed to be pretty wide-reaching, and it’s making an enormous identify for itself within the vitality, maritime, offshore, and aviation sectors, which require scalable, structurally sound steel elements at a excessive manufacturing fee.
The corporate is at present in discussions with a number of main US and UK-based companions to discover Joint Trade Initiatives (JIPs) that might assist form world trade requirements and velocity up WAAM adoption. It’s going to additionally attend the Offshore Expertise Convention in Houston, Texas, through the first week of Might 2025, the place it may meet much more companions. Moreover, to fulfill rising demand for its 24/7 manufacturing capabilities, the corporate goals to double its workforce this 12 months.
Photographs courtesy of DEEP Manufacturing Restricted
Subscribe to Our E mail E-newsletter
Keep up-to-date on all the most recent information from the 3D printing trade and obtain info and affords from third get together distributors.
Add your 3D Fashions and get them printed shortly and effectively.
