Setforge, a subsidiary of French Farinia GroUP, is a supplier of automotive metal materials with a history of more than 100 years. Recently, Setforge cooperated with Soudure Institute and Arts et Métiers Institute to develop a new additive manufacturing process called EPITHER, which can produce high-quality composite structural parts. Manufacturing uses high-performance carbon fiber composite materials instead of metals for automotive, aerospace and related industrial fields.
The company uses 9T Labs Red series equipment to mass produce carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) parts at a lower cost. And the parts have higher fiber volume (60%) and lower porosity (<1%).
9T Labs and Setforge cooperate to put additive manufacturing CFRP into mass production
Damien Felix, head of the EPITHER program, pointed out: "At present, lightweight and sustainability are becoming more and more important. As an innovative company, we need to explore the development of new production technologies through digital technology. With 9T Labs equipment, there is cost competition With a strong process, we can effectively reduce part weight and production costs."
Felix said that with the support of 9T Labs, we will find and develop suitable applications that will make it easier for composite companies to design composite parts. Setforge uses the Red Series series of design tools, which include the corresponding hardware, Fibrify software and application engineering.
Fibrify software uses integrated FEA tools to quickly define composite structural designs optimized for each operating condition. It also allows parts to be structurally verified before printing, which reduces the iterative process and simplifies the development process.
9T Labs co-founder and chief business development officer Giovanni Cavolina explained: "Setforge is a good example of innovative part development for manufacturing companies that create new market opportunities by replacing metal with structural composites. We are able to support Setforge is very proud of this mission. The combination of 9T Labs’ experience in composite materials and Setforge’s production expertise will enable mass production using CFRP’s additive manufacturing.”