There’s been a lot of chatter about new technology in manufacturing, but here’s the bottom line: The fusion of cutting-edge techniques like additive manufacturing with time-tested processes like brazing and heat treating is turning the industry on its head. If you’re a durable goods manufacturer who wants to stay relevant, you can’t sit on the sidelines anymore. You have to join this game!
The Power of Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing—or 3D printing—has kicked the industrial world into overdrive, taking basic fabrication in a new direction: It’s creating parts layer by layer, letting manufacturers produce complex designs that would have been extremely expensive before.
Here are a few sectors that are really heating up:
- Aerospace: Jet engine manufacturers are printing fuel nozzles in one solid piece instead of assembling 20 different parts. The technology performs better, with 25 percent lighter and five times stronger products.
- Medical Devices: 3D printing can crank out custom hearing aids and other devices in less than a day. The technology is producing custom fits and comfort that weren’t possible with old-school methods.
- Sporting Goods: Custom golf clubs? You bet! Manufacturers are printing club heads and shafts tuned to a golfer’s specific swing. Scratch and weekend players are gaining more distance and accuracy, and it’s all par for the course now.
But here’s the kicker: Additive manufacturing’s full potential is unlocked when you consider proven processes like brazing and heat treating.
Brazing Meets Additive Manufacturing
Brazing isn’t a thing of the past—it’s the go-to for leak-tight joints. When teamed with 3D-printed parts, it opens new doors to assemble complex structures with the strength to last.
Think about it: Advanced filler materials, temperature-controlled brazing, and a process that makes sure every joint is rock solid—even when you’re working with intricate, additively manufactured designs? Could anything be better?
Heat Treating: The Unsung Hero of Additive Manufacturing
Let’s not forget about heat treatment, the unsung hero when it comes to additive manufacturing. Skipping this step is a huge mistake. Heat treating adds strength and durability, relieving the internal stresses that build up in 3D-printed parts.
The trick is to know how to dial in the process for each material—whether it’s metals, expensive alloys, or high-tech composites. Do it right and you have parts that’ll stand up to the toughest environments.
Synergy That’s Changing the Game
When you wed additive manufacturing with expert brazing and heat treating, it’s a powerhouse combination that delivers the best of both worlds. Here’s what you get:
- More design freedom: Print those crazy geometries, then let heat treating ensure they’re tough enough to handle the job.
- Boosted material properties: Additive manufacturing lets you use innovative materials, and heat treating takes their performance and durability to the next level.
- Cost-effective production: 3D printing gives you efficiency, and brazing and heat treating ensure durability, so your bottom line stays in check.
- Faster prototyping and production: You can crank out prototypes quickly, with brazing and heat treating making sure they meet the demands of the real world.
Quality Assurance Done Well
With all this technology, quality matters more than ever. You need a partner that doesn’t cut corners and hope for the best. You need one with advanced methods like ultrasonic inspection, X-rays, and mechanical testing to guarantee top-notch brazed joints and heat-treated components.
If you want to reach the pinnacle of your game, embracing this blend of new and old technology is essential. Work with a shop that combines the future of additive manufacturing with the solid backbone of brazing and heat treating to produce products that are built for today and ready to take on tomorrow. Give us a shout and we’ll help you design your next successful product.