Complex hydraulic components made via metal 3D printing can incorporate details that would be difficult or impossible to duplicate through conventional machining, and weight and size are reduced without compromising performance.
Hydraulic valves easily control direction, speed, torque, and force with anything from simple manual operation to sophisticated electronic controls.
Yet, production methods that create these hydraulic components have not kept pace with the expanding scope of their applications. The 3D printing offers new opportunities to capitalize on the high power density of hydraulic technology by improving the design and production of components such as manifolds, valve blocks, and valve spools.
The internal channels can be optimized for higher flow and lower pressure drop. It’s also possible to produce several different prototypes within hours to determine the best design. Furthermore, components can be made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel (from AISI 304 to AISI 316L), aluminum, titanium, and new materials still under development.
Three-dimensional printing is an additive manufacturing, which builds up the desired part layer by layer. With 3D printing, flow channels can be placed exactly where they are needed, and in optimum size and shape.
