Elkem, in collaboration with VTT, Siemens, Stellantis, and Gemmate Technologies, has unveiled a new 3D printing powder tailored for electric vehicle (EV) motors.
Developed under the SOMA project, the initiative focuses on leveraging additive manufacturing to create lightweight solutions for e-mobility using soft magnetic alloys. The newly formulated iron silicon powder, enriched with additives, exhibits soft magnetic properties, facilitating easy magnetization and demagnetization essential for electric motors.
Manufactured using a pilot atomizer at the Future Materials Norwegian Catapult Centre, this material has been successfully utilized to 3D print components for evaluating both quality and manufacturability of demo devices.
VTT in Finland and Siemens in Germany have overseen the 3D printing and part qualification processes, culminating in the production of an electric scooter motor—a compelling use case further supported by Gemmate-Technologies and VTT through meticulous modeling.
“The powder developed in the SOMA project will now be introduced to the market by Elkem for evaluating the product for future commercial production,” said Jan Ove Odden, Project Lleader at Elkem.
“The product is currently available in small test volumes.”
Elkem’s soft magnetic powder marks a significant development in advancing 3D printing capabilities for electric motors, promising enhanced efficiency and performance in the domain of e-mobility.
Source: elkem.com
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