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Additive Manufacturing
Argon gas heat exchangers for AMCM ’ s metal 3D printing machines
AMCM M4K machine .
In their pursuit of advancing additive manufacturing , AMCM , a leading provider of customized metal 3D printing machines , aimed to enhance thermal management and performance of their flagship M 4K printer .
Text & images by Conflux Technology
To meet the demands of extended build times and highspeed processing of challenging materials like copper , AMCM turned to Conflux Technology for an improved heat exchanger . AMCM ’ s objectives were primarily two-fold :
• Lower the argon gas temperature below 25 ° C with minimal pressure drop .
• Create a streamlined monolithic design that included supporting ducts , sized no larger than the incumbent heat exchanger .
With design freedoms on the overall shape and size , Conflux delivered a heat exchanger that exceeded the targets . The heat transfer solution provided greater heat transfer performance in a package just 7 % of the original size , all while remaining cost-competitive , assuring AMCM of both efficiency and affordability .
Discovery & feasibility phase Each Conflux project commences with an initial meeting dedicated to grasping the customer ’ s heat transfer challenges and their desired objectives . During this session , the team delved into discussions with AMCM about the boundary conditions , order of priorities , constraints and design assumptions . Following the receipt of requirements from AMCM ’ s innovation and engineering team , with a focus on pressure drop and outlet gas temperature as key priorities , the Conflux team proceeded to present preliminary CFD simulations , complete with estimated performance ranges . A comprehensive report was produced , detailing the optimal configuration pertaining to fin size , design , density , and channel height to achieve the target performance . This document also encompassed overall package sizing , build estimation , and an evaluation of the technical and commercial feasibility for serial production .
CFD model showing how pressure varies through the heat exchanger .
How is argon gas used in additive manufacturing print machines ?
Argon is used in 3D metal printing to create an oxygen-free environment . It acts as a protective gas , preventing metal powders from reacting with oxygen during the printing process . This ensures high-quality results and minimizes the risk of unwanted chemical reactions .
24 Heat Exchanger World September 2024 www . heat-exchanger-world . com