From chips to usable product
Posted by: Hankamp on 01/08/25
In collaboration with Fraunhofer Innovation Platform, we have been working on the CAM Craft project. This project investigates whether it is technically, financially, and environmentally viable is to process metal chips locally into a metal powder suitable for 3D printing. The ultimate goal: to reduce the environmental impact of the metal recycling chain.
The initial test results are promising:
- The recycled powder performed almost as well as virgin powder during 3D printing.
- With slightly higher energy input, the recycled powder delivered even better quality.
- The optical density followed the expected trend in relation to energy input and productivity.
In short: recycled powder can be printed just as well as virgin powder. A great step towards greener and circular metal production.
What makes this even more special is that the chips we reused came from our own production, for the same customer. This closes the circle: from waste material back to a usable product.
#circular #sustainability #3Dprinting #innovation #metal
