Sandvik offers 3D-printed components made from its cemented carbide

Metals manufacturer Sandvik has begun 3D-printing cemented carbide components for customers.

The 160-year-old global materials supplier, which credits the “superior” wear-resistance of its carbide to proprietary powders and processing technologies, has developed a parts-printing program called “Plan it, Print it, Perfect it.” The program comprises seven steps:

1. Selecting what to print

2. Material selection

3. Design and modeling

4. Choice of optimal AM technology

5. 3D printing

6. Postprocessing

7. Testing and quality assurance

The company says that 3D printing is just one of the steps needed for the successful industrialization of additive manufacturing, and that choosing the optimal material—tailor-made for a specific AM process and end component—is perhaps the most important step.