Viable metal parts composed of a new alloy, AF9628, were successfully 3D printed using a new approach. The development of newer metal alloys that exhibit higher strength and lower weight is leading to the production of more efficient machines. Processing these alloys by conventional means is proving to be very challenging. The growing use of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is presenting new opportunities for more effectively producing intricate metal parts. One of the alloys under evaluation is an austenitic nickel-chromium-based class known as Inconel. In a previous TLT article, researchers used an ARCAM electron beam melting system in a 3D printing process that produced intricate metal parts from Inconel 718. This approach enabled the crystallographic texture of the metal part to be designed by controlling not only metal precipitation but also the solidification structure.
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