About us
The OpenHybrid project will offer unrivalled flexibility, high quality on parts produced and increased productivity for companies looking into taking advantage of its unique ability to perform both additive and subtractive manufacturing. In recent years the combination of laser-based Additive Manufacturing and Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machining has become increasingly popular, with several machine tool manufacturers exhibiting products based on different machine tool configurations (hybrid manufacturing). Most commonly hybrid system is based on Directed Energy Deposition (DED) AM processes.
Our Mission
By creating new hybrid machines, equipped with both subtractive and additive manufacturing technologies, OpenHybrid will be a game changer for faster creation of new opportunities and applications for Additive Manufacturing (AM). This new solution, when implemented, will increase the level of robustness and repeatability of such industrial processes, will optimise and evaluate the increased performance of production lines in terms of productivity and cost-effectiveness and, finally, it will assess the sustainability, functionality and performance of the produced new materials. Beyond new parts production, this new manufacturing method will also allow for a very effective repair technique.
OpenHybrid Objectives:
A key objective of OpenHybrid is to make integration of the hybrid system onto any machine tool platform as easy as possible. The ability of a machine tool to be hybridised will be termed hybrid ready. The concept of hybrid ready will be tested in the project.
- Increase the impact and uptake of hybrid AM technology for a wider range of machine tool platforms, process, materials and applications
- Develop a single manufacturing system capable of producing large, high volume and complex components without the need for materials handling or post-processing
- Develop an all-in-one hybrid additive and subtractive multi-tool platform using directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing (known as cladding)
- Integrate a machining process to enable fully finished components to be produced
- Can fit new part production or very effective repair technique.
- Laser cladding will be employed, offering: Excellent control, Very high deposition rates, Material flexibility, Minimal substrate interaction.
- Novel techniques to: Reduce thermal stress and provide a robust inert gas environment to ensure material quality.
Our News
OPENHYBRID project moves on!
The OPENHYBRID 6th month meeting took place at Gudel Ag Langenthal, Switzerland (CH), on the 30th of March and at George Fisher (GF), Ipsach site (CH) on the 31st of March.
OPENHYBRID – from computer-aided design to production with advanced all-in-one machines
Currently, it is not possible to undertake a wide range of processes in a seamless automated operation with a single manufacturing system.
