TRUMPF has expanded its aluminum  portfolio for additive manufacturing. "The new aluminum alloys can be used in  numerous 3D printing applications, from prototyping to series production. Users  benefit from the typical advantages of 3D printing, such as lightweight  construction, material savings, and a large degree of control in component  design. The quality of the printed parts is at least as good as that of machined  ones," says Jan Christian Schauer, responsible for additive manufacturing material selection at TRUMPF. The expanded aluminum portfolio includes alloys  that are suitable for the automotive, motorsports, aerospace and bicycle  industries. In Frankfurt, the high-tech company will present sample parts at the  world's leading trade fair for 3D printing, Formnext.  

The right aluminum alloy for every application  

TRUMPF is working closely with customers from various industries to integrate  the new alloys into their applications. "The variety of aluminum variants allows  customers to use the best alloy for their particular application. It is not possible to  cover all requirements with a single aluminum alloy. That's why TRUMPF offers  this broad portfolio," says Schauer. The aerospace industry, for example,  requires high-strength alloys, while the automotive industry relies on alloys that  are particularly cost-effective. In the bicycle industry, especially in frame  construction, the aluminum alloy 6061 has established itself, but thus far only in  conventional manufacturing processes. Now, frame manufacturers can also use  this alloy in TRUMPF 3D printers.  

 TRUMPF assists its customers in selecting the right alloy at its 3D printing  application lab in Ditzingen, Germany. There, clients can test the various  aluminum alloys with the high-tech company's 3D printing experts to find the  correct material for their application.