As we all know, many different machines and larger electronics in the real world need to be driven by hydraulic pressure, regardless of internal or mechanical forces. From the pump to the cylinder to the actuator to the valve, the hydraulic system controls various electronic devices.

But as the industry develops, more modern technologies are needed to further advance hydraulic technology. Using metal 3D printing not only has better technology, but also allows designers and engineers around the world to create types of parts that traditional technology can't manufacture. Hydraulic components can also be 3D printed in small batches, often with unique features. All the benefits of 3D printing are available at low cost, ease of creation (and the ability to make changes), increasing productivity and speeding up manufacturing. Using a 3D printer in the field can drastically change production methods and time frames, making it easy for participants to understand why many people see this technology as a new revolution for the entire industry.

3D printed hydraulic components can be 3D printed with a variety of materials, including:

Stainless steel AISI304;

Stainless steel AISI316L;

aluminum;

titanium;

Inconel (718);

Aidro, headquartered in northern Italy, is at the forefront of metal 3D printing for the manufacture of hydraulic components. Managing director Alberto Tacconelli said that their most suitable type of 3D printing is powder bed fusion. This is used in direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and selective laser melting (SLM) processes.

For those who want to know if hydraulic metal 3D printing is suitable, if you want to print in small batches, especially parts on demand, Tacconelli recommends this technique. If you rely heavily on prototyping or want to do more, then 3D printing allows you to create your own design in the field instead of waiting for a third party to provide it. 3D printing also lets you choose from a wider range of metallic materials. Tacconelli says they usually use aluminum and stainless steel.

Tacconelli said: "With good design methods, we can 3D print a hydraulic manifold that can withstand the peak pressure of the system without any problems. We can increase the wall thickness and change the finite element analysis to indicate the path of the potential failure shape."

In addition to 3D printed manifolds being tested at the Aidro Hydraulic Additive Manufacturing Solutions Center (SCAMH), they have further expanded component evaluation with the support of Politecnico di Milano experts.

"After careful evaluation, we chose the direct metal laser sintering process, which guarantees higher accuracy and smoother surface finish in the case of hydraulic products," Tacconelli said.

Some examples of Aidro's metal 3D printed hydraulic components are:

The stainless steel hydraulic valve block that controls the single-acting hydraulic cylinder-the internal passage is optimized to achieve better flow with lower pressure loss, eliminating external leakage issues.

Improved stackable hydraulic valve-Compared to parts made with traditional methods, parts made with 3D printed stainless steel have reduced weight by 60% and the structural walls remain strong.

Hydraulic Manifolds Used in Agricultural Machinery-Double acting cylinders are driven by two solenoid valves and two pilot operated check valves. Parts made with metal 3D printing are half as large and 75% lighter than traditionally made parts.

Spool with new hole form-This new design replaces the typical round hole, allowing greater oil throughput and less pressure drop.

The following image compares the traditional version with the 3D printed version.

"This manifold works exactly like his previous version: it controls a double-acting cylinder with two solenoid valves and two pilot-operated check valves." The Aidro team said: "Compared to a traditional manifold, The new solution reduced the weight of the parts by 75% and was half the size. "

Aidro was founded in 1982 by hydraulic engineer PaoloTirelli. Today, they use metal 3D printing to make custom designs of lightweight parts with complex geometries and rapid prototyping. Their SCAMH provides a factory where engineers can create specially designed new parts to meet the needs of industry customers, including design, production, test, measurement, CNC machining and any post-processing. Aidro uses an EOS3D printer for printing.
-This article comes from Ai Hydraulic Forum, the original address: http://www.iyeya.cn/portal.php?mod=view&aid=1441