Increasing the Productivity of Metal AM via Partnership

Betatype recently set up a partnership with nTopology to develop and produce a functionally optimized rocket nozzle part. 

nTopology designed the base mechanical structure of the part, using its nTop Platform software to convert the 3D model of the nozzle part into an implicit model. The team then used nTopology’s advanced topology optimization and simulation tools to optimize the design of the part. Working together with Betaype and applying the capabilities of its unique Engine and Process Control technology, they were able to further optimise the design for metal additive manufacturing; specifically the laser powder bed fusion (PBF) process. 

This application of Betatype’s software technology enabled an increase in productivity for the complex metal rocket nozzle part. For this specific project, Betatype achieved a notable reduction in build time on the AM system from 25 hours down to 18 hours, or 28%. 

“Betatype’s partnership with nTopology is an excellent demonstration of how we can work with talented designers to make additive manufacturing perform,” says Betatype founder and CEO, Sarat Babu. “The application clearly shows the benefits of combining the functional design and optimization skills of our partner with process optimization through our technology to achieve productivity levels that would not otherwise be possible with a standard metal LPBF platform.”

“For serial production in additive manufacturing to work, it must make business sense,” Brad Rothenberg, founder and CEO nTopology, says. “Through the partnership between nTopology and Betatype, and our shared belief in solving engineering problems by linking design, simulation, and manufacturing processes directly, we are able to present a strong business case for additive manufacturing. We could not be happier with the results of this rocket nozzle case study and are looking forward to working on more joint projects.”

The rocket nozzle part was built in titanium on a Renishaw RenAM250 system by Betatype. It was a test part created to highlight how different solutions can be integrated through partnerships. The capabilities of nTop Platform demonstrated how functionality can be improved through the application of intelligent design, while ensuring the part is fit for purpose. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.