RTU Researcher Andris Ratkus at Fraunhofer IWS Institute, 2014
Photo: Riga Technical University
Additive manufacturing technology and its applications steadily grew from the niche product to the multipurpose manufacturing solution, which today is being applied in many fields of mechanical engineering and machine building technologies. In particular, laser cladding proved its high efficiency, precision and economic benefits in repair sectors of aerospace, automotive and ship repair industries. This technology is very flexible and well suited for multi-material micro and macro in-situ repairs. Additive manufacturing equipment, tools and technical solutions are getting more and more compact, precise, productive and versatile.
Therefore, this is of special interest for FCC and eventual in-situ repairs of its structures and elements within the future tunnel itself. Additionally, the in-situ additive manufacturing and laser cladding with moderate R&D effort could be applied in already existing robotized service and surveillance systems of LHC tunnel.
Additive manufacturing: