SWISSto12, based in Switzerland and a leading provider of advanced radio frequency (RF) products and telecommunication satellites, has significantly enhanced its production capacity with the purchase of four MetalFabG2 metal 3-D printers from the Netherlands-based
Additive Industries, which is headquartered in Eindhoven.
Founded in 2011 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), SWISSto12 gained international recognition for the innovative use of precision manufacturing and 3-D printing in developing next generation RF products. The company has subsequently developed the world’s largest IP portfolio for the use of 3-D printing in RF product applications, benefiting from the optimised and complex geometries that make full use of the design freedom of additive manufacturing (AM).
With this technology, SWISSto12’s integrated RF systems no longer need to be assembled with hundreds of components; and by using fewer interconnects and further optimising their designs these products deliver significant mass savings, enhanced RF performance, smaller form factor, and lower production costs. SWISSto12 says this approach also offers a significant level of affordable customisation and reduced lead times, adding that it has qualified this technology to the highest aerospace standards and has successfully deployed over 1,000 functional products in space with zero failures.
Maximum productivityThe MetalFabG2s are equipped four full-field lasers for maximum productivity; and because each laser can access and melt material over the 420 x 420mm build plate, users can achieve precise geometrical tolerances and the highest laser usage during every layer of a build process. Furthermore, the machine’s large build size enables SWISSto12 to push the limits of RF satellite payload performance and create next-generation systems with mechanical and thermal features integrated in large monolithic products.
Three of the four systems procured by SWISSto12 will be dual-core versions of the MetalFabG2, which incorporate advanced automation features for build set up, build changeover, build starts, laser calibration, integrated powder handling solutions, and ‘advanced scanning strategies’.
Emile de Rijk, SWISSto12’s CEO, said: “Our collaboration with Additive Industries marks a milestone in our pursuit of excellence in RF technology and production scale-up. The quality and capabilities of the MetalFabG2s align seamlessly with our commitment to innovation and quality, and this investment enables us to service the growing requirements and production volumes for our aerospace customers.”