voxeljet’s VX9000—the world’s largest binder jet 3D printer—has efficiently printed 20 benchmark sand molds, every with jobboxes extending as much as 9.5 meters in size. These molds are actually coming into the casting part, the place they are going to be reworked into huge metallic parts important for clear vitality technology. The VX9000 exhibits how additive manufacturing can scale to beforehand unimaginable dimensions whereas sustaining precision and value effectivity.
Developed in shut collaboration with GE Vernova and Fraunhofer IGCV, the VX9000 was custom-engineered to satisfy the demanding specs of GE’s vitality infrastructure tasks, notably these involving wind and hydro turbine parts. The VX9000’s improvement and deployment are backed by a considerable $14.9 million grant from the U.S. Division of Power (DoE). This funding helps voxeljet and GE Analysis in advancing the VX9000 underneath the banner of the Superior Casting Cell (ACC) initiative. This initiative goals to supply near-net form (NNS) parts considerably decreasing lead instances and manufacturing prices for the U.S. clear vitality transition.
Initially introduced in 2021, the VX9000 is central to a broader technique to revolutionize part manufacturing for wind generators such because the GE Haliade-X. This explicit turbine not too long ago set a world file by producing 312 megawatt-hours of vitality in 24 hours. The nacelle of this turbine, which homes essential mechanical programs and weighs over 60 metric tons, is a chief instance of the parts being focused for manufacturing utilizing the VX9000.
By drastically shortening the sand mildew manufacturing cycle from ten weeks to simply two, the VX9000 represents a essential innovation within the provide chain for large-scale vitality infrastructure. Its capability to print huge sand molds expedites the manufacturing timeline. It gives financial benefits that would cut back hydropower prices by as much as 20% and lead instances by as a lot as 4 months.
As a part of the broader ACC undertaking, voxeljet is collaborating with GE Hydro, GE Onshore Wind, GE Offshore Wind, Clemson College, Oak Ridge Nationwide Laboratory, and Hodge Foundry. These partnerships purpose to create a full digital foundry workflow, from mildew design to completed product, and embrace workforce coaching initiatives to construct experience in superior manufacturing applied sciences.
